MORNING, EVERYONE.

HOW'S EVERYONE DOIN' TODAY?

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK I SEE MORE PEOPLE OUT THERE.

HOW'S VERYONE DOING THIS MORNING?

[ Applause ] THERE WE GO.

MY NAME IS CHRIS HARRINGTON AND I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

AND WELCOME TO THE 37th ANNUAL Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY CELEBRATION HERE AT THE ORDWAY.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED TODAY, WE'D LIKE TO START WITH THE FACT THAT THE ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WE GATHER ON DAKOTA LAND.

WE ARE OBLIGED TO THE DAKOTA PEOPLE, PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE WHO LIVE HERE AND WHO PROTECT THIS LAND.

IN THE SPIRIT OF RECONCILIATION, THE ORDWAY WILL CONTINUE TO HONOR OUR NATIVE AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ARTS.

SO WHILE THIS IMPORTANT CELEBRATION HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 37 YEARS NOW, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THAT THE ORDWAY HAS HOSTED IT.

SO WE ARE REALLY INCREDIBLY HONORED TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE WITH US TODAY, LIVE AND IN PERSON.

WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MUTE BUTTONS AND LIGHTING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

BY SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE ATTENDING AN EVENT AT THE ORDWAY FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME?

>> FANTASTIC.

WELCOME.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU AGAIN HERE TODAY.

JUST BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION, THE ORDWAY OPENED ITS DOORS BACK IN JANUARY OF 1985, O WE'RE ACTUALLY TURNING 38 THIS MONTH.

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR, HE ORDWAY'S KNOWN FOR PRESENTING THE VERY BEST IN BROADWAY, PRODUCED AND TOURING SHOWS, FAMILY PROGRAMMING, CONCERTS, SO MUCH MORE.

WE'RE ALSO HOME TO THE ARTS PARTNERSHIP, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF THE St. PAUL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA, SCHUBERT CLUB, MINNESOTA OPERA AND COLLECTIVELY WE PRESENT HUNDREDS OF EVENTS HERE HERE AT THE ORDWAY.

SO WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN STEIN.

IN DECEMBER OF -- AGAIN SOON.

IN DECEMBER OF 022, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU ALL WEAR OF THAT WE HOSTED A VERY MAGICAL PRODUCTION OF DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST RIGHT HERE ON THIS STAGE.

WAS ANYONE HERE OR BEAUTY AND BEAST?

I AM INCREDIBLY HONORED TO BE A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY HICH HAS SO MUCH TALENT.

WE HAD ABOUT 35 CAST MEMBERS HERE, AND OF THOSE 35, 27 RE ACTUALLY FROM THE TWIN CITIES AND 50% OF OUR PRINCIPAL ROLES WERE PLAYED BY BIPoC ARTISTS SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAD SO MUCH REPRESENTATION HERE ON THIS STAGE.

[ Applause ] AND THEN JUST AST WEEKEND, ACTUALLY, FRIDAY, WE HAD THE AMAZING THREE-TIME GRAMMY AWARD WINNING SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS RIGHT HERE ON THIS STAGE PRESENTING MUSIC FOR MARTIN.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO NSURING THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE WELCOME AND WE TRULY REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE CURRENTLY SERVING AND HOPE TO SERVE.

I KNOW MY TIME IS ALMOST UP.

ONE LAST THING I WANTED TO SAY BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO OUR EMCEE FOR TODAY IS, SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW, BUT I RECENTLY MOVED HERE FROM DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SO I'VE BEEN HERE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW.

AND I'M REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT HAS EMBRACED ME AND MY IFE AND MADE THIS REALLY A SECOND HOME FOR US.

SO GROWING UP, I HAVE GONE TO QUITE A FEW MLK CELEBRATION EVENTS, I GREW UP LEARNING ABOUT Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING'S DREAM, WHILE I WENT TO ALL OF THOSE EVENTS, NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS COULD I HAVE IMAGINED STACKED HERE BEFORE -- STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY AS THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ARTS CENTERS RIGHT HERE IN St. PAUL.

[ Applause ] THANK YOU.

SO, WHILE I BELIEVE AT MY ORE THAT Dr. KING'S DREAM IS ALIVE AND WELL, I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S STILL DISPARITIES AND INJUSTICES, AND SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT EXISTS HERE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT Dr. KING'S DREAM IS FULLY REALIZED FOR ALL.

WE CAN ALL DO IT.

WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO.

AND I THINK AS EVIDENCED BY YOU ALL BEING HERE TODAY, I APPRECIATE YOU GOING ON THIS JOURNEY WITH US AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

AND PLEASE ENJOY THE SHOW.

AND AT THIS TIME, I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING CHANDA SMITH BAKER, WHO'S THE CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER AND SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION.

AND STEVE GROVE, COMMISSIONER OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

PLEASE WELCOME THEM O THE STAGE.

[ Applause ] >> THANKS, CHRIS, THAT WAS AMAZING.

THANK OU SO MUCH.

>> GOOD MORNING, AND THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER.

MY NAME IS CHANDA SMITH BAKER, AS HE JUST SAID, I'M THE CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER AT THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION.

AND I'M ONE OF YOUR HOSTS THIS MORNING.

I'M PLEASED TO WELCOME YOU O THE 37th ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENT, STATE OF MINNESOTA CELEBRATION.

>> WHOO!

[ Applause ] >> WE'RE THRILLED TO SEE YOU ALL HERE TODAY.

THANKS FOR COMING HERE TODAY.

>> AND I AM STEVE GROVE, COMMISSIONER OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ALSO KNOWN AS DEED, AND CHANDA'S CO-HOST THIS MORNING.

THIS ANNUAL EVENT, HOSTED BY GOVERNOR WALZ AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN, HONORS DR. KING'S LEGACY AND ENCOURAGE US TO CONTINUE TOWARD EQUITY IN OUR STATE.

AND TODAY OUR THEME COULD NOT BE MORE TIMELY.

IT IS TO BUILD BLACK WEALTH IN OUR STATE.

WE WILL FIND INSPIRATION IN DR. KING'S EXAMPLE AND HIS WORDS AS WE WORK TO ENSURE ALL MINNESOTANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED.

>> IN HIS 1964 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, DR. KING SAID, "THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT POVERTY.

WHAT IS NEW, HOWEVER, IS THAT WE HAVE THE RESOURCES TO GET RID OF IT."

59 YEARS LATER, THAT STATEMENT STILL HOLDS TRUE.

THE UNITED STATES HOLDS TREMENDOUS WEALTH, YET FAR TOO MANY FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE AS WE KNOW, AS Dr. KING'S WISDOM TELLS US HAT RACE NOT SHOULD E A PREDICTOR OF MINNESOTANS' OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE.

YET, FOR SO MANY, IT DOES.

AND THE CHALLENGES OF THE PAST THREE YEARS HAVE ONLY DRIVEN HOME THE NEED TO ELIMINATE RACIAL WORKFORCE DISPARITIES AND EXPAND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

TOO MANY PEOPLE STILL LIVE ON ONE WHAT Dr. KING SAID, THE LONELY ISLAND OF OVERTY.

NOW'S THE TIME TO TACKLE THIS PROBLEM HEAD-ON AM.

WE OWE IT TO EVERY BLACK MINNESOTAN TO FOLLOW Dr. KING'S EXAMPLE, TO WORK TOGETHER WITH SHARED GOALS, AND COMMITMENTS.

TO BUILD BLACK WEALTH, NOW AND NO GENERATIONS TO COME.

IN THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY, I INVITE YOU TO TURN TO SOMEONE NEAR YOU AND WELCOME THEM AS A COMPANION ON THIS JOURNEY.

>> .

WELL, NOW THAT WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER.

WE'RE EXCITED TO BE BACK TOGETHER IN PERSON.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD THIS CELEBRATION IN PERSON FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

IT'S THE FIRST MONTH OF A NEW YEAR.

IT'S THE START OF 2023.

MINNESOTA FACES TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITIES AS WE BEGIN THIS YEAR AND IT'S A PERFECT TIME TO COME TOGETHER, BE INSPIRED BY ONE ANOTHER AND OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY TODAY, BE INSPIRED BY Dr. KING'S LEGACY.

>> FOR DR. KING, ERADICATING POVERTY AND CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR BLACK AMERICANS WAS A CENTRAL PART OF THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

DR. KING ONCE SAID, "OUR STRUGGLE IS FOR GENUINE EQUALITY, WHICH MEANS ECONOMIC EQUALITY."

ALL OF US IN STATE GOVERNMENT HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO HEAR DR. KING'S WORDS AND EXAMINE HOW WE CAN BETTER SERVE ALL MINNESOTANS, INCLUSIVE OF RACE.

AT THE AGENCY THAT I LEAD IT'S Dr. KING'S COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITY AND EQUITY THAT GIVES US THE INSPIRATION TO BUILD BUILD BLACK WEALTH AND IT'S WHY WE'RE HERE ON THE STAGE TODAY TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO COMMIT TO THIS FOCUS FOR OUR STATE AS WE KICK OFF A NEW YEAR.

THIS IS A MOMENT TODAY TO REFLECT ON Dr. KING'S WISDOM, BUT ALSO TO THE FUTURE AND THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO EMPOWER THE GROWTH OF THE MINNESOTA ECONOMY FOR EVERYONEMENT.

AND WE HOPE TODAY'S EVENT DOES THE SAME FOR YOU, IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO NOT ONLY REFLECT BUT TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD WORK TO DO TOGETHER AHEAD.

AND WE'RE GRATEFUL, OF COURSE, TODAY TO WELCOME MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE WHO HELPED BRING THIS CELEBRATION TOGETHER.

WE WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON MARTIN LUTHER KING'S JR.'S HOLIDAY.

PLEASE STAND AS I SAY YOUR NAME.

EUNICE ADJEI.

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER PATRICE BAILEY.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DR. STEPHANIE BURRAGE.

CARL CRAWFORD.

GREGORY CUNNINGHAM.

JERAD GREEN.

BISHOP RICHARD HOWELL, JR. SCOTT MORRIS.

JUDE NNADI.

REVEREND PAUL SLACK.

WHITNEY TERRILL.

EBONY WALKER.

LET'S GIVE AROUND A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ Applause ] >> WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR EVENT SPONSORS: US BANK, >> 3M, >> BREMER BANK, >> DELTA DENTAL, >> THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS, >> THOMSON REUTERS, THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS TODAY.

[ Applause ] WE ALSO WANT TO THANK ALL THE MINNESOTA STATE AGENCIES THAT COLLABORATED TOGETHER TO MAKE TODAY POSSIBLE.

>> PLEASE STAND NOW FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS BY THE MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD AND THE SINGING OF OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM BY THE SHILOH TEMPLE CHOIR.

OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT WHAT SO PROUDLY WE HAIL'D AT THE TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS THRO' THE PERILOUS FIGHT O'ER THE RAMPARTS WE WATCH'D WERE SO GALLANTLY STREAMING AND THE ROCKETS' RED GLARE THE BOMBS BURSTING IN AIR GAVE PROOF THRO' THE NIGHT THAT OUR FLAG WAS STILL THERE O SAY, DOES THAT STAR-SPANGLED BANNER YET WAVE O'ER THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE BRAVE.

[ Applause ] >> AS WE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGE THE LAND WE STAND ON, WE WANT TO WELCOME AND GIVE THE FLOOR TO THE PERFORMERS FROM THE AIN DAH YUNG YOUTH CENTER.

[ DRUMMING AND CHANTING ] [ Applause ] >> LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR AIN DAH YUNG!

[ Applause ] WOW, WHAT A PERFORMANCE!

SO POWERFUL.

AND AS WE WAIT FOR THE PERFORMERS TO CLEAR THE STAGE AND WAIT FOR OUR NEXT ACT TO COME UP.

MAYBE I'LL TURN TO YOU.

WHAT DOES Dr. KING'S LEGACY MEAN TO YOU AS A MINNESOTAN TODAY?

>> YEAH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT WHEN THEY WERE WAVING OUT TO THEIR PARENTS AND THINKING ABOUT HOW MY MOM USED TO DRAG ME ON THIS DAY TO THINGS, AND, YOU KNOW, AS A OUNG BLACK GIRL GROWING UP IN MINNESOTA, I WAS VERY HUNGRY FOR THINGS THAT REPRESENTED ME.

AND I KNEW FOR SURE ON THIS DAY IN OUR STATE THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND MORE DEEPLY THE HISTORY, MORE DEEPLY THE OPPORTUNITY, AND SEE THE REFLECTION OF LEADERSHIP THAT I OFTEN DID NOT SEE DAY TO DAY BE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

AND, SO, I DO NOT TAKE THIS DAYLIGHTLY.

I THINK THAT OUR CONTINUED WORK IS TO MAKE SURE THAT REPRESENTATION CONTINUES ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> YEAH.

>> HOW ABOUT YOU, STEVE?

[ Applause ] >> AMEN TO THAT!

I THINK THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL.

I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE AN AMERICAN AND NOT BE INSPIRED BY Dr. KING.

AND I THINK TODAY WE GOT A WHITE MAN IN GOVERNMENT AND A BLACK WOMAN IN PHILANTHROPY ON STAGE TODAY TOGETHER CELEBRATING THIS MAN WHO REALLY REQUIRES ALL OF US TO COME TOGETHER AND BE ALLIES IN THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE IN OUR STATE.

AND WE KNOW MINNESOTA IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

GLOBALLY IN THIS MOMENT.

AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE NEXT EW MONTHS AND YEARS IS GOING TO AFFECT DECADES OF GROWTH IN OUR STATE.

SO IT TAKES ALL OF US TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO GLAD TO HAVE EVERYONE HERE TODAY IN COMMUNITY.

>> RIGHT ON.

>> I THINK WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME THE TITAMBE WEST AFRICAN DANCE ENSEMBLE TO PERFORM ON STAGE.

WELCOME, EVERYONE, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU HERE.

[ Applause ] [ SINGING ] [ DRUMMING AND SINGING ] [ Applause ] [ Applause ] >> HOW POWERFUL WAS THAT?

THANK YOU TO OUR PERFORMERS.

>> WOW!

I'M EXHAUSTED AND ENERGIZED AT THE SAME TIME WATCHING THAT PRESENTATION.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WELL, LOOK, AS WE SAID BEFORE, THIS MORNING IS A CHANCE TO COME TOGETHER, A CHANCE FOR EACH OF US TO HONOR AND BUILD OBJECT THE -- ON THE LEGACY OF ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING PEOPLE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR GREAT COUNTRY, REVEREND MLK JR. >> TODAY WE WILL CELEBRATE Dr. KING AND BLACK EXCELLENCE THROUGH SONG, SPOKEN WORD, REMARKS AND A CONVERSATION WITH ANNA GIFTY OPOKU-AGYEMAN.

AN AWARD-WINNING RESEARCHER, ENTREPRENEUR AND WRITER.

HER BOOK HE BLACK AGENDA, BOLD SOLUTIONS FOR A BROKEN SYSTEM IS THE FIRST COLLECTION TO EXCLUSIVELY FEATURE BLACK SCHOLARS AND EXPERTS ACROSS ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, HEALTH, CLIMATE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND TECHNOLOGY.

>> AS CHANDA POINTED OUT EARLIER, IT'S BEEN 59 YEARS SINCE Dr. KING'S CHALLENGE TO AMERICA TO ENSURE THE PROSPERITY IS SHARED AND TO USE ITS RESOURCES TO LIFT UP THOSE IN POVERTY.

IN THE WORDS OF ONE OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, WEALTH IS THE MEANS AND PEOPLE ARE THE ENDS.

ALL ARE MATERIAL RICHES WILL AVAIL US LITTLE IF WE DO NOT USE THEM TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES OF OUR PEOPLE.

>> FOR Dr. KING, THE STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE WAS DRIVEN BY HIS BELIEF THAT ALL PEOPLE HAD THE RIGHT TO EARN A FAIR AND DIGNIFIED LIVING, INCLUSIVE OF RACE, OCCUPATION, ND SOCIAL ECONOMIC STATUS.

IN MINNESOTA, WE ORK HARD TO INSTILL EQUITY INTO THE SYSTEMS OF OUR SOCIETY, FROM GOVERNMENT TO NONPROFIT TO OUR BUSINESS TO LABOR COMMUNITIES.

BUT EVEN HERE, AND I WOULD ARGUE ESPECIALLY NOW, THERE'S A LONG ROAD AHEAD TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

MORE THAN 50 YEARS AFTER THE DEATH OF DR. KING AND THE SIGNING OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE HOUSEHOLD INCOMES PERSIST.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK AS WE ALL WELL KNOW, RACIAL DISPARITIES HAVE LONG HELD BACK OUR ECONOMY HERE IN MINNESOTA.

IT IS WHAT IS HOLDING BACK OUR GROWTH IN THE STATE.

26% OF BLACK MINNESOTANS LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.

THAT NUMBER IS 7% FOR WHITE MINNESOTANS.

AND IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

OVER THE PAST ECADE, DATA HAS SHOWN THAT OUR STATE HAS EXPERIENCED NOTABLE AND SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS MANY INDICATORS FOR BLACK MINNESOTANS, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT RATES AND LABOR FORCE PARTICIPATION.

WE ALL KNOW THE INEQUITY IT IS BETWEEN -- INEQUITIES BETWEEN WHITES AND BLACKS IN THIS STATE SUB BORN -- STUBBORNLY REMAIN, ESPECIALLY THE WEALTH GAP.

INDEED OUR STATE'S, OUR MISSION IS TO EMPOWER THE GROWTH OF THE MINNESOTA ECONOMY FOR EVERYONE, AND, OF COURSE, THAT INCLUDES VERYONE OF ALL RACES AND BACKGROUNDS.

AND WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME UNDER GOVERNOR WALZ, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN, ORIENTING OUR WORK AROUND FIVE ECONOMIC COMMITMENTS THAT REDUCE BARRIERS TO GROWTH IN OUR STATE.

WE'RE DRIVING DOLLARS TO TARGETED POPULATIONS, WE'RE FORMING PERHAPS TO BREAK SYSTEMIC BARRIERS, INCREASING OUR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, MAKING EQUITY EVERYONE'S JOB, AND COMMITTING TO CHANGING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SO OUR VERY CULTURE FOCUSES ON THIS EVERY DAY.

AND WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK AHEAD.

BUT WE THINK WE CAN DO IT.

WE THINK WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS IN OUR STATE IF WE'RE ALL WORKING TOGETHER.

>> IN THE SOCIAL ECTOR WE SEE ALL TOO OFTEN WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GROUND.

SO WE SEE HOW POLICIES EFFECT EVERYDAY LIFE, HOW PEOPLE LIVE, HOW THEY EAT, IF THEY EAT, IF THEY HAVE A HOME.

TODAY IS MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, IT COULD BE A DAY OFF.

AS I HEARD THIS MORNING, OR IT COULD BE A DAY TO LEAN IN AND LEAN INTO THE HARD WORK THAT IS AHEAD OF US.

THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION, WE ARE WORKING HARD EVERY DAY TO GET MORE AND MORE APPROXIMATE TO THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES AND THE EXPERTS THAT ARE BEST POSITIONED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

>> SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

AS THE GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TELL OUR TEAM ALL THE TIME, IT IS A MOMENT TO BE BOLD.

AND IF YOU WERE ABLE TO SEE LAST SUMMER, THEY LAUNCHED A COUNCIL ON ECONOMIC EXPANSION THAT PUT TOGETHER A ROAD MAP THAT GIVES US SOME VERY ACTIONABLE STEPS THAT WE CAN TAKE AS AN ECONOMY AND AS A STATE TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD IN OUR STATE AND CREATE GREATER EQUITY IN OUR ECONOMY.

AS A TEN-YEAR ROAD MAP, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

THE CORE ASSUMPTION AND CORE POINT AND CALL TO ACTION, THIS IS AN INFLECTION POINT FOR OUR STATE, WHAT WE DO IN THESE COMING MONTHS IS GOING TO AFFECT DECADES OF PROSPERITY IN OUR STATE.

AND FOCUSING ON EQUALITY AND OUR ECONOMY IS THE NUMBER ONE FOCUS WE HAVE TO HAVE IN TERMS OF THE MORAL FIBER OF OUR STATE BUT AS A STRATEGY TO GROW WEALTH IN OUR STATE.

WE BELIEVE WE HAVE A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD, IF WE WORK TOGETHER AND TAKE Dr. KING'S WORDS TO HEART.

>> WE ARE HONORED THIS MORNING TO HAVE SHILOH TEMPLE CHOIR WITH US TO SING THE BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM, LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING.

"LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING" WAS WRITTEN BY JAMES WELDON JOHNSON AND FIRST PERFORMED IN 1900 BY CHILDREN AT A SEGREGATED SCHOOL IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

THE SONG REMINDS US NEVER TO FORGET THE SUFFERING OF THE PAST AND ROOTS US IN THE REALITY OF TODAY.

IT REMINDS US TO BE TRUE TO WHO WE ARE AND TO PERSEVERE.

PLEASE STAND AS YOU ARE ABLE AND WELCOME THE SHILOH TEMPLE CHOIR FOR "LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING."

LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING TILL EARTH AND HEAVEN RING RING WITH THE HARMONIES OF LIBERTY; LET OUR REJOICING RISE HIGH AS THE LISTENING SKIES LET IT RESOUND LOUD AS THE ROLLING SEA.

SING A SONG FULL OF THE FAITH THAT THE DARK PAST HAS TAUGHT US SING A SONG FULL OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT US FACING THE RISING SUN OF OUR NEW DAY BEGUN LET US MARCH ON TILL VICTORY IS WON.

STONY THE ROAD WE TROD BITTER THE CHASTENING ROD FELT IN THE DAYS WHEN HOPE UNBORN HAD DIED; YET WITH A STEADY BEAT HAVE NOT OUR WEARY FEET COME TO THE PLACE FOR WHICH OUR FATHERS SIGHED?

WE HAVE COME OVER A WAY THAT WITH TEARS HAVE BEEN WATERED WE HAVE COME, TREADING OUR PATH THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE SLAUGHTERED OUT FROM THE GLOOMY PAST TILL NOW WE STAND AT LAST WHERE THE WHITE GLEAM OF OUR BRIGHT STAR IS CAST.

GOD OF OUR WEARY YEARS GOD OF OUR SILENT TEARS THOU WHO HAS BROUGHT US THUS FAR ON THE WAY; THOU WHO HAS BY THY MIGHT LED US INTO THE LIGHT KEEP US FOREVER IN THE PATH, WE PRAY.

LEST OUR FEET STRAY FROM THE PLACES, OUR GOD, WHERE WE MET THEE; LEST, OUR HEARTS DRUNK WITH THE WINE OF THE WORLD, WE FORGET THEE; SHADOWED BENEATH THY HAND MAY WE FOREVER STAND.

TRUE TO OUR GOD TRUE TO OUR NATIVE LAND [ Applause ] >> HOW WONDERFUL, THAT SONG GETS ME EVERY SINGLE TIME.

IT IS NOW MY GREAT HONOR TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE LIEUTENANT OVERNOR OF MINNESOTA, PEGGY FLANAGAN.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, GOOD MORNING!

OH, LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.

GOOD MORNING!

OH, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

TODAY IS A GOOD DAY.

THANK OU SO MUCH, SHILOH, FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL MUSIC.

AND WELCOMING US INTO THIS SPACE, AND O THE DRUMMERS FROM AIN DAH YUNG, WE APPRECIATE YOU, COMMISSIONER GROVE AND CHANDA SMITH BAKER, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR AMAZING EMCEES, OUR PERFORMERS, YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME OTHER LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE RATEFUL THAT THEY ARE HERE WITH US.

AND TO YOU, EVERYBODY WHO IS IN THIS ROOM AND ALSO JOINING US VIRTUALLY, TO REFLECT ON AND TO CELEBRATE Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND WE'RE GOING TALK ABOUT HOW TO BUILD BLACK WEALTH HERE IN OUR STATE.

THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, Dr. KING TOLD US TO EMBED ECONOMIC JUSTICE WITHIN THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

HE URGED US TO REJECT THE INEVITABILITY OF POVERTY AND TO LIFT UP EVERY FAMILY.

AND HE INSISTED ON INVESTING IN OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES, NOT SIMPLY AS A MEAN TO AN END, BUT A NECESSITY IN ITS OWN RIGHT.

WE'RE HERE ODAY TO REMEMBER THOSE LESSONS AND TO BE INSPIRED BY Dr. KING'S WISDOM, WHICH IS AS RELEVANT TODAY AS IT WAS HALF A CENTURY AGO.

BUT IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO SIMPLY REMEMBER AND FIND INSPIRATION.

WE NEED TO PUT Dr. KING'S WORDS INTO ACTION.

TOO MANY BLACK MINNESOTANS EXPERIENCE POVERTY.

SO WE NEED TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP WORKERS FIND DIGNITY AND A GOOD-PAYING JOB.

TOO MANY BLACK FAMILIES AND BLACK PARENTS ACK THE ECONOMIC SECURITY TO TAKE TIME OFF TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN OR RELATIVES, SO WE NEED PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE TO GIVE EVERYBODY A CUSHION.

TOO MANY BLACK CHILDREN ATTEND UNDERFUNDED SCHOOLS, SO WE NEED TO INVEST IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY CLASSROOM TO JUMP-START THE POTENTIAL OF OUR NEXT GENERATION.

THE GOOD NEWS HERE IN MINNESOTA IS THAT IT'S ON OUR CHARACTER TO WORK TOGETHER, BUT WE CAN'T LET MINNESOTA NICE GET IN THE WAY.

[ Applause ] WE NEED TO WORK HARD TO MEET THE GREAT CHALLENGES THAT FACE US, BUT IN ORDER TO MEET THOSE CHALLENGES, WE MUST TELL THE TRUTH.

AND Dr. KING SAID, THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

AND WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION OR TO THE NEXT ELECTION BECAUSE TWO YEARS OR FOUR YEARS IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD, THE LIFE OF OUR COMMUNITY IS A VERY LONG TIME.

AS WE HONOR Dr. KING TODAY, LET'S RECOMMIT TO REMAIN IN THIS MOMENT AS WE DO RIGHT BY EVERY MINNESOTAN.

AND ALL MINNESOTANS CAN AND SHOULD FOLLOW Dr. KING'S EXAMPLE, BUT IT'S TOO IMPORTANT AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THOSE OF US WHO HOLD ELECTED OFFICE CAN LEAD THE WAY, BUT IN ORDER TO LEAD THE WAY, WE MUST FOLLOW THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE.

BLACK AND AFRICAN AMERICAN MINNESOTANS SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOOK AT THEIR GOVERNMENT AND SEE PUBLIC SERVANTS WORKING FOR THEM AND WITH EVERY ELECTORAL CYCLE, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS LOOK MORE AND MORE LIKE MINNESOTA.

A TREND THAT SHOULD CONTINUE.

SO LAST NIGHT MY DAUGHTER AND I AND MY HUSBAND WERE AT THE VIKINGS GAME.

I KNOW.

A COLLECTIVE GROAN.

WE WERE AT THE GAME AND MY DAUGHTER WAS STRUCK BY THE SINGING OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM AND SHE STARTED SINGING IT ON THE WAY HOME IN THE CAR.

SHE'S 10.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW ALL OF HE WORDS EXACTLY.

BUT WHEN WE GOT HOME, IN THE DOOR, SHE SAID, MOM, WE TALK ABOUT THE HOME OF THE FREE, - AND SHE SAID, BUT AMERICA ISN'T FREE.

AND SHE SAID, WE HAD SLAVERY.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAME HERE WHO STOLE THE HOMES OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY HERE.

AND FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES, MY 10-YEAR-OLD CHILD, WHO KNEW THAT TODAY IS MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY, WHO LEARNED ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING RIGHT AT SCHOOL AND IN A BOARD BOOK WHICH TELLS THE VERY SANITIZED VERSION OF r. KING, BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT HE WAS VILIFIED IN HIS TIME AND THAT A QUOTE ON SOCIAL MEDIA ISN'T ENOUGH AND TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE TRUTH, SO WE SAT DOWN ON THE COUCH.

AND I SAID, MY GIRL, AMERICA IS AN IDEA.

AND IT IS ALWAYS IMPROVING.

WE ARE ALWAYS IMPROVING IT.

WE ARE ALWAYS FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

AND YOUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE, YOUR MAMA FIGHTS FOR JUSTICE, AND YOU WILL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE TOO.

BECAUSE WE WILL NEVER BE THE BELOVED COMMUNITY UNLESS WE TEND TO EACH OTHER.

WE TEND TO OUR DEMOCRACY, WE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, AND WE DO RIGHT BY PEOPLE.

SO, OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES, MY CHILD CHALLENGED ME LAST NIGHT, AND I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD SHARE THAT STORY WITH YOU.

BECAUSE WHAT DOES FREEDOM REALLY LOOK LIKE?

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

AND THROUGH OUR ACTIONS, THEY SHOULD FEEL THE IMPACT, OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD FEEL THE CHILD-CENTERED IMPACT DESIGNED TO PUT OUR YOUNGEST GENERATION ON THE PATH TOWARDS WEALTH AND STABILITY AND TOWARDS COMMUNITY.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BELIEVE IT WHEN WE SAY THAT EVERY PERSON, EVERY AMILY DESERVES DIGNITY AND PROSPERITY.

WE MEAN EVERY FAMILY.

WHEN BLACK MINNESOTANS HEAR US TALKING ABOUT BUILDING BLACK WELT, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN THE HARD WORK TO DO JUST THAT.

BUILDING BLACK WEALTH.

AND SO I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO TO REACH THAT COUNTRY AND THAT WORLD WHILE EVERYONE IS FREE.

BUT AS MY MOTHER SAID, IT'S GOOD WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT.

SO, I KNOW THAT WE ARE UP TO THE TASK, THIS OMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE TO GET OVER THAT MINNESOTA NICE, TELL THE TRUTH, DO THE ORK, AND CONTINUE TO TEND TO OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER TO REACH THAT BELOVED COMMUNITY AND REJECT APATHY AND BEING COMFORTABLE.

SO MY ALLY IN THAT WORK IS MY FAVORITE CO-WORKER.

WHO REMINDS US AS WE ARE BUILDING OUR BUDGET THAT IT IS A MORAL OCUMENT, IT IS A DOCUMENT THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES, E LOOK FORWARD TO ROLLING IT OUT FOR YOU SOON.

BUT I HOPE THAT YOU SEE YOUR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND THAT WE DO IT TOGETHER.

SO WITH THAT, PLEASE WELCOME OUR GOVERNOR, TIM WALZ.

[ Applause ] >> GOOD MORNING, MINNESOTA!

THANK YOU, LL, FOR PAUSING IN YOUR DAY AND CHOOSING TO COME INTO THIS SPACE, CHOOSING TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COMMUNITY MEANS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT EACH OF OUR PLACES IN THAT.

I'M HONORED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS WORK WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN, AS YOU HEARD, IS A FIERCE DEFENDER OF EQUITY AND A FIERCE CHAMPION FOR ALL OF OUR CHILDREN.

WANT TO THANK CHANDA AND STEVE FOR EMCEEING TODAY AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN COMMUNITY.

YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SENATORS KLOBUCHAR AND SMITH AND OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, JUST GRATEFUL THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO BE HERE TOO AND SHARE THAT MESSAGE.

TO ALL THE ARTISTS AND PERFORMERS WHO REMIND US ABOUT WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT MINNESOTA.

AND I WAS JUST HAVING A FEW MINUTES HERE BACK STAGE WITH OUR INCREDIBLE KEYNOTE SPEAKER, WHO IS GOING TO COME OUT, INSPIRE US, AND I THINK LIFT US UP TO WHO WE CAN BE.

WE GATHER TODAY, THINKING ABOUT Dr. KING'S LEGACY.

AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR, THAT HIS MORAL AUTHORITY AROUND THE UNCONDITIONAL COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY.

RIGHTEOUS OUTRAGE OVER SYSTEMIC RACISM.

AND A VERY CLEAR DECLARATION AROUND AN ALL-OUT WAR ON POVERTY.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE TAKE BIG IDEALS, IT SOMETIMES LETS PEOPLE OFF THE HOOK BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE TO MEASURE RESULTS.

YOU HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THERE'S FOLKS IN HERE WITH GRAY HAIR, ESS HAIR LIKE ME, WHO PROBABLY HEARD HUNDREDS OF SPEECHES TALKING ABOUT ENDING INEQUALITY.

AND CREATING BLACK WEALTH.

BUT IT'S 2023, AND WE'RE HERE AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING.

AT SOME POINT IN TIME, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TAKE ACTION AROUND THAT.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOSE FAITH, THEY'RE GOING TO SHOW THE SENSE OF OUTRAGE THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.

SO THIS IDEA THAT NOW IS THE TIME, THAT FIERCE SENSE OF URGENCY THAT'S BEING FELT, LET'S BE VERY CLEAR.

THIS NATION'S TIME HAS PASSED 500 YEARS OF INEQUALITY, EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW.

MINNESOTA NEEDS TO SET THE BAR FOR OURSELVES.

WE NEED TO BE ON THE FRONT LINE OF THIS FIGHT.

WE NEED TO UNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE WAY THINGS HAVE BEEN DONE.

THE WORLD SAW US, THE WORLD SAW US NEARLY THREE EARS AGO.

[ Applause ] AND THE BIGGEST QUESTION ALL OF US AID AT THIS TIME IS, THEY SAW US, BUT HOW WILL THEY REMEMBER US?

WILL THEY REMEMBER US FROM THAT DAY IN MAY?

WHEN A MAN LOST HIS LIFE.

WILL THEY REMEMBER US BECAUSE PEOPLE'S OUTRAGE WAS VISCERAL?

OR WILL THEY REMEMBER US BECAUSE WE SAID, NOW IS THE TIME FOR THAT CHANGE TO BE ENACTED.

SO YOU HEARD, YOU HEARD LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE THERE.

WE MUST BE THOUGHTFUL, INTENTIONAL AND HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR TRULY CREATING BLACK GENERATIONAL WEALTH.

[ Applause ] BECAUSE IF WE DO NOT, JUST TO BE CLEAR, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO MORAL CONSCIENCE IN THIS, IF YOU HAVE ANY ECONOMIC VISION OF WHAT MINNESOTA'S FUTURE LOOKS LIKE, IT WILL BE BLEAK IF WE DON'T DO THIS.

IT WILL NOT BE AS POWERFUL IF WE DON'T DO THIS.

AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES OVER AND OVER.

SO, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MENTIONED THAT.

BUDGETS ARE FISCAL DOCUMENTS, BUT THEY'RE MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

THEY'RE MORAL DOCUMENTS.

THEY LAY A ROAD MAP OF OUR SHARED VALUES.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LAYING THAT OUT BECAUSE WE'RE IN AN INFLECTION POINT.

COVID-19 DOES WHAT EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM KNOWS.

IT LAID A VERY CLEAR PICTURE OF INEQUITIES, WHETHER IT WAS HEALTHCARE, WHETHER IT WAS WEALTH, WHETHER IT WAS EDUCATION, WHETHER IT WAS HOME OWNERSHIP, WHETHER IT WAS PAY.

ALL THOSE THINGS WERE THERE.

WE DO RANK VERY NEAR THE TOP, BUT I, FOR ONE, AS GOVERNOR, AND I THINK YOU SHOULD HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS, WE CAN'T COME IN FRONT AND SAY, WE DO REALLY WELL, BUT FOR OUR BLACK COMMUNITIES, WE DON'T DO THAT.

OR WHEN WE DISAGGREGATE THE DATA, IT'S NOT SO GOOD.

THAT IS NO LONGER GOING TO GIVE YOU A PASS BECAUSE YOU PAUSE TO ADMIRE A PROBLEM THAT ALL OF US KNOW EXISTS, THAT IT TOOK US DECADES TO FINALLY COME OUT AND SAY.

SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS AND WE BROUGHT OUT A BUDGET, MINNESOTA'S A STATE WITH THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

SOME OF THE BEST JOB GROWTH.

SOME OF THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF LIVING.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR US TO UT A PLAN IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO DISAGGREGATE THE DATA WHEN R -- WHEN WE SAY IT'S THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE, THE BEST PLACE TO GO TO SCHOOL, THE BEST PLACE TO WN A HOME, THAT NEEDS TO BE EVERYONE, WITHOUT A LITTLE STAR ON THE SIDE.

[ Applause ] NOW, IT'S TIME TO BE BOLD.

YOU KNOW HOW THEY ALWAYS TELL YOU, WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY.

THAT MIGHT BE TRUE.

BUT SOMETIMES IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DAMN MONEY!

IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY.

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR RIGHT NOW, WE'RE AT A POINT THAT WILL PROBABLY NOT BE SEEN IN OUR LIFETIMES AGAIN, TO MAKE GENERATIONAL AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA BY USING OUR STATE BUDGET TO DO SO.

BY ENSURING THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON THAT AND LET'S BE CLEAR, WE WILL PUT TOGETHER A BUDGET THAT FOCUSES ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON OUR NORTH STAR IN THAT BUDGET AND EVERY ONE OF YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EE IT, IS GOING TO BE EQUITY IN THERE.

IT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITIES ARE LIFTED UP.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ASK, WHO'S GETTING THE MONEY AND WHERE WE'RE INVESTING, WE'RE INVESTING WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT, WHERE WE CAN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE, WHERE WE CAN CREATE THAT WORKFORCE THAT THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TALKS ABOUT AND GUESS WHAT?

THE ONE THING WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THIS STATE IS SUCCESSFUL AS WE CAN BE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GENERATING GENERATIONAL BLACK WEALTH.

SO I HAVE TO TELL YOU ALL, WE STAND IN FRONT OF YOU NOW, NOT TO TALK ABOUT, AND IT'S IMPORTANT, Dr. KING'S INSPIRATION, HE DIDN'T SAY THOSE THINGS SO THAT GOVERNORS IN 2023, 60 YEARS LATER, COULD USE HIS QUOTES IN SPEECHES.

AND TALK ABOUT, OH, THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE IS WRONG, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL QUOTE BUT IT BENDS TOWARDS JUSTICE.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T GIVE ANYBODY A PASS TO LET IT BE LONG WHEN WE CAN SHORTEN IT UP.

IT DOESN'T GIVE ANY OF US, IF WE CAN SHORTEN THAT ARC, SHORTEN THE ARC, SO WHAT I'M TELLING YOU IS, AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID, OUR CHILDREN CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER YEAR.

A FAMILY CAN'T WAIT ANOTHER GENERATION TO OWN A HOME.

OR A BUSINESS OWNER.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION.

WE'RE NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT DECADE OR THE NEXT YEAR.

THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE IN.

WE CAN FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE AND BRING ABOUT FAIRNESS TO MINNESOTA BETWEEN NOW AND MAY.

[ Applause ] RARELY, RARELY IN OUR LIFETIMES WILL WE HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO I CAN PLEDGE TO YOU, AS WE STAND HERE ON MLK DAY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A BUDGET UNVEILED OVER THE NEXT WEEK, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALLIES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE FEDERAL PARTNERS WHO HAVE HELPED US MAKE THIS HAPPEN, TO CHANGE THIS DYNAMIC, TO BEND THAT CURVE, TO SHOW THE REST OF THE WORLD, WE WANT TO BE ON THE FRONT END OF CORRECTING THAT SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES, WE WANT TO BE ON THE FRONT END OF MEASURABLE RESULTS.

AND WHAT I WANT IS, I WANT PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SAY, I'M MOVING TO MINNESOTA.

THAT'S HERE BLACK PEOPLE ARE VALUED, THAT'S HERE WEALTH CAN BE GENERATED, THAT'S WHERE WE ARE MAKING THE DECISIONS.

SO I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO TAKES PART IN THIS.

BUT I ALSO WANT THIS TO BE A REFLECTION, NOT JUST ON Dr. KING'S LEGACY, BUT A REFLECTION ON US.

HOW OFTEN CAN YOU SIT IN A ROOM LIKE THIS, THINKING ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS, AND WE HAVE IT WITHIN OUR GRASP TO AKE THAT CHANGE.

IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY UNIMAGINABLE TO LET THIS MOMENT IN TIME PASS, SO LET'S NOT LET IT PASS.

THANK YOU, ALL.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

I CAN TELL YOU, AS SOMEONE WHO IS ON THE GOVERNOR'S CABINET, ONE OF HIS EMPLOYEES, WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT MEASURABLE RESULTS, HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, HE'S NOT KIDDING.

HE DOES.

HE DOES IT EVERY DAY AND IT'S REALLY SOMETHING WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR AT THE AGENCY AS WE LOOK AT HOW THESE NUMBERS ARE GOING TO SHIFT TO BUILD BLACK WEALTH OVER TIME.

I'M THRILLED NEXT TO OUR WELCOME OUR U.S.

SENATOR, AMY KLOBUCHAR.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, HELLO, EVERYONE.

THANK YOU.

I WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR WALZ, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN.

I WAS THINKING THIS MORNING, SOMEONE ACTUALLY SAYS, WHEN YOU LOOK AT Dr. KING'S WORDS AND HIS LIFE, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT IT NOT WITH NOSTALGIA BUT AS INSTRUCTION, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR'S AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR'S INCREDIBLE MESSAGE TODAY.

IT DOESN'T JUST MATTER WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST.

IT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO GOING FORWARD AND THAT MEANS A STATE BUDGET FOR EVERYONE IN THIS STATE.

THAT MEANS ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL INEQUITIES.

THAT MEANS ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL MAKING SURE WE'RE PUTTING MONEY INTO EDUCATION, THAT WE'RE INCREASING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE, THAT WE UNDERSTAND Dr. KING'S WORDS, AS HE ACCEPTED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE IN 1964, WHEN HE SAID HE HAD THE AUDACITY TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE EVERYWHERE COULD HAVE THREE MEALS A DAY FOR THEIR BODIES, EDUCATION, AND CULTURE FOR THEIR MINDS AND DIGNITY, EQUALITY AND FREEDOM FOR THEIR SPIRIT.

AND THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT CONGRESSMAN CLYBORN AND SENATOR BOOKER'S WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THAT 10% OF FEDERAL RESOURCES BE COMMITTED TO COMMUNITIES WHERE AT LEAST 20% OF THE POPULATION HAVE BEEN LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE FOR 30 YEARS.

THAT IS INVESTMENT IN AREAS THAT NEED IT MOST.

NOW, I WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME GOOD REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON.

WHICH, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T ALWAYS DO.

RIGHT?

THE FIRST IS THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE ON WHICH I SERVE HAVE PUT IN PLACE A RECORD NUMBER OF FEDERAL JUDGES OF COLOR, A RECORD NUMBER.

WE HAVE PUT IN NEARLY 100 JUDGES, AND ONE OF THOSE JUDGES IS JERRY BLACKWELL.

WE ARE SO PROUD.

SENATOR SMITH AND I NOMINATED HIM.

I SHEPHERDED HIM THROUGH THE PROCESS.

I GOTTA TELL YOU, HE WAS SO GOOD THAT WHEN -- AND HIS AUNT TOLD ME AFTER THE HEARING THAT JERRY HAD NEVER LOST A CASE IN HIS LIFE, I SAID, WELL, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN GOOD THING TO TELL THE COMMITTEE.

HE WAS INCREDIBLE.

WE PICKED UP SOME REPUBLICAN VOTES.

WE GOT IT DONE.

I'M GOING TO BE SO PROUD TO BE THERE WITH HIM WHEN HE IS FORMALLY SWORN IN BUT HE'S ALREADY ABILITYING AS A JUDGE.

ACTING AS A JUDGE.

AS SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAID TODAY, IT WOULD BE VALERIE JARRETT, THE SPEAKER AT THE MOMENT HIS MORNING, SAID, YOU CANNOT BE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE, RIGHT?

AND WHAT DO WE HAVE IN MINNESOTA?

WE HAVE THE INCREDIBLE KEITH ELLISON AS OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THAT INSPIRES PEOPLE.

WE HAVE MELVIN CARTER AS THE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY.

WE HAVE ILHAN OMAR AS A CONGRESSWOMAN FROM THE FIFTH DISTRICT.

WE HAVE HENNEPIN OUNTY SHERIFF, DAWANNA WITT, NEWLY ELECTED.

WE ARE SO PROUD OF THESE LEADERS.

BUT I WILL END WITH THIS, BECAUSE THIS WAS A LESSON TO ME ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS THAT YOU CANNOT BE WHAT YOU CANNOT SEE.

SO, WHEN THE NOMINATION PROCESS STARTED FOR OUR NEW AND INCREDIBLY GREAT SUPREME COURT JUSTICE, BROWN JACKSON, I WAS GOING ON A WALK.

SHE HAD OT YET BEEN NOMINATED BY THE PRESIDENT.

AND THIS MAN JUMPED OUT OF HIS CAR AND HE SAW ME, HE SAID, SENATOR, SENATOR, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD ABOUT MY DAUGHTER, SHE SENT A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT AND THEY MENTIONED IT ON THE NEWS.

I SAID, NO.

HE SAID, I HAVE THE LETTER HERE.

HIS DAUGHTER'S NAME IS MADDIE.

SHE WAS 11 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE SENT THIS LETTER.

AND IN IT SHE SAID, DEAR PRESIDENT BIDEN, I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AN AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN TO BE THE JUSTICE.

I WOULD LIKE TO APPLY.

SHE SAID, LET ME TELL YOU THREE THINGS ABOUT ME.

NUMBER ONE, IF YOU PUT ME ON THE COURT, I WILL STAY FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

LIKE 08 YEARS.

80 YEARS.

SHE SAID, NUMBER 2, I WILL BE A VOICE FOR CHILDREN ON THAT COURT THAT IS REALLY BADLY NEEDED.

AND SHE SAID, NUMBER 3, IF YOU'RE WORRIED THAT I CAN'T GET TO WORK BECAUSE I'M 11 YEARS OLD AND I CAN'T DRIVE, I LIVE EIGHT BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE COURT SO I CAN RIDE MY BIKE.

SO, IN ANY CASE, BROWN JACKSON IS NOMINATED, WE HAVE THE HEARING.

I'M ON THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND YOU CAN BRING GUESTS.

AND I BROUGHT MADDIE AS MY BEST -- AS MY GUEST.

AND THERE SHE SAT WITH HER DAD IN THE FRONT ROW, AND ON THE BREAK, I GOT TO INTRODUCE HER TO NOW JUSTICE JACKSON.

AND I SAW HER EYES, AND I SAW HER FACE, AND SHE SAID TO ME AFTERWARDS, SHE GOES, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IF I'M GOING TO BE PASSED OVER, I GUESS IT COULD BE SOMEONE THAT GOOD.

AND SHE SAID, ECONDLY, I KNOW I CAN BE HER ONE DAY.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

SO WHEN BROWN JACKSON TOOK THAT OATH ON THAT BEAUTIFUL BLUE SKY DAY, RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE WHITE OUSE, WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS, THERE WAS NO TED CRUZ SITTING OUT THERE, OKAY, THERE WAS NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WENT AFTER HER WHEN SHE HELD HER HEAD UP WITH SUCH DIGNITY.

IT WAS JUST HER.

KNOWING THAT SHE WAS GOING TO WALK INTO THAT COURTHOUSE AS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO EVER SERVE ON THE NITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

[ Applause ] THAT IS NOT JUST RESTING ON NOSTALGIA AND YOUR LAURELS WHEN IT COMES TO Dr. KING'S WORDS.

THAT IS MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU TO OUR SENATOR, TO OUR GOVERNOR AND TO OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN.

I'D NOW LIKE TO INVITE GREG CUNNINGHAM FROM TODAY'S DIAMOND SPONSOR, U.S. BANK, TO SAY A FEW WORDS.

GREG IS THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER FOR U.S. BANK.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

AND HAPPY MLK DAY!

HAPPY MLK DAY!

[ Cheers and applause ] YES!

MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR.

OUTSIDE OF MY BIRTHDAY.

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR.

ON BEHALF OF U.S. BANK, WE ARE SO PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE 37th CELEBRATION OF Dr. KING BECAUSE THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

AND AT U.S. BANK, WE BELIEVE IN ACCESS.

IN FEBRUARY OF 2021, U.S. BANK LAUNCHED OUR ACCESS COMMITMENT.

WHICH WAS OUR COMMITMENT TO CLOSING RACIAL WEALTH DISPARITIES IN THIS COUNTRY, STARTING WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

AND AT THAT TIME WE COMMITTED OVER $100 MILLION ANNUALLY TO SUPPORT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES.

AND THERE WERE THREE CRITICAL PATHWAYS TO BUILDING WEALTH THAT WERE FOCUSED ON AT U.S. BANK.

NUMBER ONE, WE'RE FOCUSED ON SUPPORTING THE CAREER GROWTH OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE REPRESENTATION MATTERS.

THE SECOND THING WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS HELPING INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES THRIVE FINANCIALLY.

THROUGH FINANCIAL EDUCATION, LIKE CLOSING HOME DISPARITIES AND PROVIDING WEALTH MANAGEMENT SERVICES.

AND THE THIRD AREA THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS HELPING COMMUNITIES BECOME MORE VIBRANT.

BY SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES SO THAT THEY CAN GROW AND SCALE AND CREATE JOBS.

YOU KNOW, LOTS OF COMPANIES MADE BIG FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS, OUR $100 MILLION ANNUAL COMMITMENT WAS IMPORTANT, WE DOUBLED THAT INVESTMENT IN 2021, AND WHEN WE COUNT THE FINAL DOLLARS IN 2022, OUR INVESTMENT WILL BE EVEN FURTHER NORTH OF THAT.

BUT PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR BIG PRONOUNCEMENT AND YOUR BIG DOLLARS.

WHAT THEY DO CARE ABOUT IS HOW YOU'RE CHANGING THE LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS.

HOW YOU ARE FOCUSED ON OUTCOMES AND NOT JUST ACTIVITIES.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO, IT'S ABOUT DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN DO.

AND, SO, AS WE CELEBRATE THE 60th ANNIVERSARY IN AUGUST OF THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON, I WANT TO SHARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES WITH ALL OF YOU FROM Dr. KING.

AND THE QUOTE IS FROM LETTERS FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL.

AND Dr. KING SAID, WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY.

TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY.

AND WHAT AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY AFFECTS ALL OF US INDIRECTLY.

SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ALONGSIDE ALL OF YOU TO HELP BUILD BRIGHTER FUTURES AND TO HELP TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY FOR ALL MINNESOTANS.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH AND HAVE A GREAT MLK DAY.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, THANK YOU, GREG, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP, FOR YOUR - VISION, AND FOR ALL THAT U.S. BANK HAS DONE TO ACCELERATE COMMUNITIES BUILDING BLACK WEALTH.

YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE OUR NEXT PERFORMER, THE ACCLAIMED MINNEAPOLIS ARTIST, EDUCATOR AND SPEAKER, JOE DAVIS.

PLAWTION [ Applause ] >> RIGHT ON, RIGHT ON, WE'RE HERE, BABY, WE MADE IT.

WE'RE HERE, IT'S OUR TIME!

IT'S OUR TIME!

I NEED Y'ALL TO HELP ME OUT.

WHEN I POINT TO OU ALL, YOU SAY, IT'S OUR TIME.

LET'S SAY THAT TOGETHER.

IT'S OUR TIME!

YES, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, THAT'S WHAT Dr. KING WAS ALL ABOUT.

IF NOT NOW THEN WHEN?

IF NOT S, THEN WHO?

WE ARE THE ONES.

WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR TO CARRY FORWARD Dr. KING'S LEGACY.

THAT'S WHAT THIS FIRST POEM IS ABOUT.

IT'S ABOUT US, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO CARRY FORWARD AND KEEP THAT LEGACY ALIVE.

SO WHEN I POINT TO YOU ALL DOING THE REFRAIN, WE'RE ALL GOING TO SAY THAT TOGETHER.

IT'S OUR TIME.

BUT YOU GOTTA SAY IT LIKE YOU REALLY MEAN IT.

YOU FEEL ME?

YOU GOT TO SAY IT WITH YOUR CHEST, WITH SOME SOUL.

COME ON, Y'ALL.

>> IT'S OUR TIME!

>> THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

ONE MORE TIME.

>> IT'S OUR TIME!

>> YES!

THOSE WHO CARRY FORWARD THE STORIES OF OUR PEOPLE ARE KNOWN AS GRIOS AND WE CAN BE COUNTED AMONG THEM.

>> IT'S OUR TIME.

>> KEEPING WITH THE RHYTHM OF THE BEATING OF OUR HEARTS, FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS TO THE TOP OF OUR LUNGS, SINGING SONGS OF OLD AND YOUNG, WEAVING A CULTURAL FABRIC LIKE A STAR-SPUN MAP OF QUILTED CONSTELLATIONS.

A NORTH STAR, A NORTH SIDE DESTINATION, POINTING US FORWARD, ORIENTING US TOWARDS FUTURES, SUTURES TO THE WOUNDS OF OUR PAST.

>> IT'S OUR TIME.

>> THROUGH THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS, HERE IS WHERE WE RAISE OUR CHILDREN, IN OUR SPIRITS, LIKE THE SUN, LIKE OUR ANCESTORS ASCENDING, THEY'RE ROOTING FOR US, COURSING THROUGH THE BLOOD, WITHIN OUR HANDS, LIFTED IN PRAISE AND IN DEMAND TO RECLAIM THE LAND ON WHICH WE STAND.

>> IT'S OUR TIME.

>> YES.

WE ARE COLORING CIRCLES OUTSIDE THE RED LINES AND BLOCKBUSTING TO CAST A VISION BEYOND THE CAST SYSTEM OF CASTEE SYSTEM AND THE SKIN THAT WE LIVE IN.

>> IT'S OUR TIME.

>> RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS, MANY COVENANTS, AND YET, RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS CANNOT STOP.

TRANSFORMING VACANT LOTS INTO HEALING PLACES, BEYOND WHAT WAS ONCE THOUGHT POSSIBLE.

GROUP ECONOMICS TAUGHT US, WE AIN'T GOT IT ALL TOGETHER, BUT TOGETHER WE GOT IT ALL.

COMMUNITIES DIVIDED BY WIDENING HIGHWAYS, UNITED TO ORGANIZE SIDEWALKS, BUS AND BIKE LANES.

IT'S A MOVEMENT.

WE'RE MEANT TO MOVE.

THE WORLD CLOSER TOGETHER, CLOSER TO OUR HUMANITY, CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS, CLOSER TO THE BREATH IN OUR CHEST IN THIS PRESENT MOMENT WHERE IT ALL STARTS NOW.

IT'S OUR TIME.

AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] I HAVE ONE MORE POEM.

AND AS WE THINK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., I THINK ABOUT HOW HE TALKED ABOUT THOSE OF US WHO LOVE PEACE MUST LEARN TO ORGANIZE AS EFFECTIVELY AS THOSE WHO LOVE WAR.

RIGHT?

AND HE'S ALSO QUOTED AS SAYING, THAT HE FEARED HE INTEGRATED HIS PEOPLE INTO A BURNING BUILDING, THAT WE NEEDED TO TAKE TIME ASIDE TO HEAL.

AND I THINK THAT WORK OF TRANSFORMING SYSTEMIC INJUSTICES AND HEALING OUR MINDS, SOULS AND BODIES, THAT'S WHAT'S CALLED HEALING JUSTICE.

AND I THINK WE NEED BOTH IF WE'RE TO MAKE HIS DREAM COME ALIVE AND TO NOT ONLY ENVISION BUT EMBODY THAT FUTURE THAT HE'S TALKED ABOUT.

AND, SO, I WROTE THIS POEM TO HELP ENLIVEN THAT.

I THINK THIS TAKES ALL OF US, WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN THAT WORK.

I'M JUST ONE VOICE OF THE COLLECTIVE OF MANY.

IF WE WANT COLLECTIVE, WE NEED THE COLLECTIVE.

I NEED YOU ALL TO ROCK WITH ME ON THE POEM RIGHT HERE.

SO THE REFRAIN, GOES THE KING, THE KING, THE ING LIVES.

AND THE FIRST TIME I'M GOING TO POINT TO YOU ALL AND I WANT YOU ALL TO SAY IN ME.

THE KING AND THE KING AND THE KING LIVES.

>> IN ME.

>> YES, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL.

TURN TO SOMEBODY NEXT TO ME, THE KING, THE KING, THE KING, LIVES NEW.

LET'S TRY THAT.

THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN YOU.

>> RIGHT ON.

AND THE THIRD TIME, WE'RE GOING TO SAY, THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES AND Y'ALL WILL SAY IN US.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TRY IT.

THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN US.

>> YES!

AND PUT ALL THREE OF THOSE TOGETHER.

THAT'S GOING TO BE THE REFRAIN OF THE POEM.

THE KING THE KING THE KING LIVES.

>> IN ME.

>> THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN YOU.

>> THE KING, THE KING, KING LIVES.

>> IN US.

>> IF THEY LISTEN FROM A DISTANCE, THEY CAN HEAR US COME.

DRUM MAJORS FOR JUSTICE AS WE HIT THE DRUM.

WITH OUR FIST AND OUR SPIRITS LIFTED UP, FOR PEACEFUL RESISTANCE AND THE STRENGTH TO LOVE.

CAN WE PLEASE NOT TALK ABOUT KING'S DREAM?

UNLESS WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE THAT DREAM COME TRUE.

TWO AMERICAS, IT'S THE SAME THING THE DREAM EANS TO ME, THE SAME THING THE DREAM MEANS TO YOU.

SEE, KING HAD A STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN, SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A DREAM.

HE SPOKE TRUTH TO POWER.

SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST A SPEECH.

HE FOUGHT FOR JUSTICE, FROM THE CHURCH, TO THE COURTS, TO THE STREETS.

HE WAS DETERMINED NOT, NOT DETERRED BY DENIAL OR TWEET.

HE PRACTICED HAT HE PREACHED WITH HIS HANDS AND HIS FEET.

AND LET THE LEGACY FOR US, THAT'S UP TO US TO COMPLETE.

ARE WE LEARNING TO LIVE TOGETHER?

ARE WE DYING TO COMPETE?

WILL WE FORGE A NEW FUTURE OR LET HISTORY REPEAT?

'CAUSE THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN ME.

>> THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN YOU.

>> THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN US.

>> IF THEY LISTEN FROM A DISTANCE, THEY CAN HEAR US COME.

DRUM MAJORS FOR JUSTICE AS WE HIT THE DRUM.

WITH OUR FIST AND OUR SPIRITS LIFTED UP.

FOR PEACEFUL RESISTANCE AND THE STRENGTH TO LOVE.

BEFORE HE DIED, HE WENT ON STRIKE WITH SANITATION WORKERS.

AND NOW WE SANITIZE HIS WORK AS WE STAY SAFE ABOVE THE SURFACE.

QUOTING HIS WORDS OUT OF CONTEXT WITHOUT LEARNING THE DEEPER PURPOSE.

TO SHAPE THE ARC OF THE UNIVERSE WITH FAITH AND MORE COURAGEMENT.

MORAL COURAGE.

HE SHOWED US THAT THE GREATEST LEADERS ARE FIRST HE GREATEST SERVANTS.

HE WAS SO CONTROVERSIAL HE MADE THE POLITICIANS NERVOUS.

WHY AMERICA MAY GO TO HELL WAS HIS LAST SERMON, MOST NEVER HEARD IT, BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A THREAT TO THE SYSTEM THAT THE SYSTEM HAD HIM MURDERED.

BUT THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN ME.

>> HE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN YOU.

>> THE KING, THE KING, THE KING LIVES.

>> IN US!

>> IF THEY LISTEN FROM A DISTANCE, THEY CAN HEAR US COME, DRUM MAJORS FOR USTICE AS WE HIT THE DRUM.

WITH OUR FISTS AND OUR SPIRITS LIFTED UP FOR PEACEFUL RESISTANCE AND THE STRENGTH TO LOVE.

ONE KING DIED 2,000 YEARS AGO IN CALVARY, ONE KING DIED ON A TENNESSEE BALCONY.

MOUNTAINTOP WHOSE PEAK WILL FINALLY MEET, WE'RE ALL ANSWER THE CALL FOR FREEDOM.

SOME WILL BOW A KNEE, SOME WILL SHOUT A DREAM.

THE SAME SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE AND TENACITY IS THE SAME SPIRIT I PRAY THAT I HAVE IN ME.

THAT SAME SPIRIT OF HEALING JUSTICE AND TRUTH.

IS THE SAME SPIRIT I PRAY STILL LIVES IN YOU.

THE KING LIVES.

THANK YOU.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> THANK YOU, JOE.

I WAS LISTENING BACK STAGE THERE AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IT'S UP TO US TO COMPLETE.

AND I WAS THINKING ABOUT, IT'S UP TO YOU, IT'S UP TO ME, IT'S UP TO YOU -- IT'S UP TO US AND THINKING ABOUT THE SUM OF US AND WHAT THAT MEANS IF WE'RE ALL LEANING IN TO DO BETTER FOR PEOPLE THAT AREN'T DOING WELL IN OUR STATE.

THAT SOMEHOW I THINK THAT THIS EQUATION HAS SOMEHOW MEANT IN AMERICA THAT IF BLACK PEOPLE DO WELL, THEN IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEAN HERE IN THE STATE, RIGHT?

>> NO.

NO, IT'S NOT.

I THINK IT'S EASY TO THINK WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT WHERE MONEY GOES IN GOVERNMENT, OUR HOW PHILANTHROPY IS ACTING, IT GOES TO THIS COMMUNITY OR HAT COMMUNITY, IT'S A ZERO SUM GAME, RIGHT, AND ALL THE BEST ECONOMISTS WILL TELL OU, IF WE CAN BUILD BLACK WEALTH, AS OUR THEME ASKS US TO DO, IT BUILDS WEALTH FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.

OUR RESEARCH SHOWS US THAT, OUR HEARTS TELL US THAT.

IT'S WHAT BRINGS US INTO THE THEME TODAY AND OUR WORK GOING TOWERED.

>> I WAS -- FORWARD.

>> I WAS THINKING ABOUT Dr. KING THIS MORNING AS I WAS LISTENING TO A NUMBER OF REFLECTIONS ON TELEVISION.

AND WE OFTEN SEE HIM GIVING HIS GREAT SPEECHES.

AND IN KING AND THE WILDERNESS, OU SEE HIM, AND HE JUST IS SLUMPED AND HE JUST LOOKS SO TIRED.

AND THIS WORK IS NOT EASY.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER THE CELEBRATION, IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER THE PROGRESS.

BUT IT'S SOMETIMES CHALLENGING TO REMEMBER THE PROCESS TO GET THERE.

AND IT IS NOT [ELECTRONIC MUSIC] EASY.

IT IS NOT -- AND IT IS NOT EASY.

IT'S NOT AN EASY, IT'S NOT AN EASY ROAD, I'M SO GRATEFUL TO THE STATE, THE GOVERNOR, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND THE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE CONTINUED COMMITMENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS TO REFLECT, TO REMEMBER, TO CELEBRATE AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT WE STILL HAVE AHEAD OF US SO THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR THAT, CHANDA.

[ Applause ] WELL, JOE DAVIS WAS AMAZING, WASN'T HE?

WE ARE THRILLED TO BRING OUR NEXT PERFORMER ON TO THE STAGE.

THE PERFORMANCE ARTIST VIE BOHEMEMENT -- -- THE PERFORMANCE ARTIST VIE BOHEME.

>> HOW YOU DOIN', St. PAUL?

[ Cheers ] A LITTLE HOT ON THE -- A LITTLE IGH ON THE MONITOR.

THAT WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

HOW YOU DOIN', St. PAUL?

[ Cheers and applause ] >> OKAY.

THAT WAS A WARM BREW.

I'M GONNA LEAVE IT THERE.

I MIGHT ASK AGAIN LATER.

MY NAME IS VIE BOHEME, I AM SO EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH YOU ALL TODAY.

I'M GOING TO SHARE A LITTLE POEM O GIVE YOU SOME CONTEXT, OF A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE MY WEALTH JOURNEY HAS BEGUN.

AND I'M GONNA LEAVE OU WITH SOME INSPIRATION FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE AS YOU CONTINUE ON.

IS THAT ALL RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, MY PERSONAL WEALTH-BUILDING JOURNEY STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, WORKING IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY.

AND I REMEMBER WORKING AT WENDY'S IN THE DRIVE-THRU WHILE I WAS GOING TO COLLEGE, TAKING 18 CREDITS A SEMESTER, AND I REMEMBER ASKING MYSELF, YO, CAN A GIRL WHO WORKS THE DRIVE-THRU AT THE LOCAL WENDY'S BE A FLY GIRL?

A FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL, YO, FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL.

WELL, SURE.

SHE CAN BE MANY THINGS.

AND SHE IS.

A LITTLE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK.

A LITTLE MORE KIND THAN YOU THINK.

SO KIND AS TO GIVE YOU THE CORRECT CHANGE BACK WHEN YOU COUNTED IT WRONG AND LOOKED AT SHE LIKE SHE WAS STUPID.

[ CHUCKLES ] YO!

COULD THE GIRL WHO WORKS THE DRIVE-THRU AT YOUR OCAL WENDY'S BE A FLY GIRL, A FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL, YOUR FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL, A FLY GIRL, WELL, SURE.

SHE CAN E MANY THINGS.

AND SHE IS.

A LITTLE MARTER THAN YOU THINK.

A LITTLE MORE INTUITIVE THAN YOU THINK.

YES.

ON THE VERGE OF BEING A MIND READER.

SHE HAS ENOUGH INTUITION TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE TOO CHEAP TO SPEND THE EXTRA 39 CENTS FOR A SMALL SODA.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S $1.29, YOU MEAN 99 CENTS WHEN YOU ASK FOR THE VALUE SIZE, THAT'S WHAT YOU MEANT.

MY INTUITION TOLD ME.

BECAUSE I'M THE GIRL WHO WORKED THE DRIVE-THRU AT YOUR LOCAL WENDY'S, AND I'M THE FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL, YOUR FLY GIRL, THE FLY GIRL, YES!

THE FLY GIRL.

AND I CAN BE MANY THINGS AND I AM.

A LITTLE SMARTER THAN YOU THINK.

A LITTLE MORE KIND THAN YOU THINK.

YES, A LITTLE MORE WISE THAN YOU THINK.

WISE ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT MAJORITY OF FOLKS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF LIFE.

SO, EXPECT THEM FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO ARTICULATE WHAT THEY WANT AT MY DRIVE-THRU SPEAKER IS A DAUNTING TASK.

SO I PUT MOON A HALO ON TOP F -- I PUT ON MY HALO ON TOP OF MY HEADSET TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU WANT.

OR AT LEAST WHAT YOU THINK YOU WANT.

PEACE.

[ Applause ] AND, SO, ALONG MY JOURNEY OF WEALTH-BUILDING, I'M A DREAMER.

AND, SO, I'M GOING TO OFFER YOU ALL A DREAM TODAY TO INSPIRE THE JOURNEY AND BE THE WIND BENEATH THE WINGS ON YOUR CONTINUED EXPLORATION INTO BUILDING YOUR OWN BLACK WEALTH.

HIT ME.

[ MUSIC ] LYRICS: OH, YES, YES, I'M INTERGALACTIC.

OH, YES, YES, I'M GALACTIC.

OH, YES, YES, I'M GALACTIC.

OH, YES, YES, I'M GALACTIC.

I'M SORRY YOU WANTED SUNSHINE TODAY.

I AM ORRY YOU WANTED CLEAR SKIES TODAY.

BUT I KNOW THE WINDS HAVE CHANGED.

FOUR SEASONS KNOW MY GAME.

THEY RISE.

I CALL, THEY SWAY, THEY FALL.

YOU AIN'T GOTTA WORRY ABOUT WHAT I DO.

YOU GONNA HEAR ME COMIN'.

YOU AIN'T GOTTA WORRY ABOUT WHAT I DO.

I KIDNAPPED THE SUN.

TOLD THE MOON TO STAY.

CALLED THE LIGHTENING BOLTS TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

I'M SORRY I SENT YOU... NOT SORRY, I SENT YOU... >> SOME RAIN TODAY.

MY WATERS FEED THE SOUL.

ALL THINGS BIG AND SMALL.

YOU RISE, I CALL, YOU SWAY, YOU FALL.

YOU AIN'T GOTTA WORRY ABOUT WHAT I DO.

YOU GONNA HEAR ME COMIN'.

YOU AIN'T GOTTA WORRY ABOUT WHAT I O. I KIDNAPPED THE SUN.

TOLD THE MOON TO STAY.

CALLED THE LIGHTENING BOLTS TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

I KIDNAPPED THE SUN.

TOLD THE MOON TO STAY.

CALLED THE LIGHTENING BOLTS TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

SUN RAYS SHINE OUT OF MY CROWN, Y'ALL.

GLISTENING.

TO PAINT MY LIPS.

SUN RAYS SHINE OUT OF MY CROWN, Y'ALL.

YEAH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH.

OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH,!

I KIDNAPPED THE SUN.

I TOLD THE MOON TO STAY.

CALLED THE LIGHTENING BOLTS TO COME OUT AND PLAY.

YOU BETTER RUN.

YOU BETTER RUN.

I KIDNAPPED THE SUN.

TOLD THE MOON TO STAY.

OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH, OH.

YOU BETTER RUN.

IT'S 'BOUT TO RAIN, YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

I BETTER RUN SO FAST.

YEAH, YEAH, EAH.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, St. PAUL.

[ Applause ] >> THAT BLACK GIRL MAGIC, I WAS TRYING TO ENVISION MYSELF ON THAT BOX.

[ Laughter ] I'M LIKE, THIS BLACK GIRL IS GOING TO STAND RIGHT BEHIND THIS PODIUM.

I'M LOOKING AT THOSE EELS, I'M LOOKING AT THE BOX.

HOW WONDERFUL, AND I'M THINKING ABOUT ALL THE EXPERTISE AND CREATIVITY THAT WE HAVE SITTING IN EVERY CREVICE OF THE STATE AND WHAT WOULD IT MEAN IF WE WERE ABLE TO CTIVATE IT, IF WE WERE ABLE TO ACTIVATE IT SO OUR BLACK MINNESOTANS, SO PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME COULD DO EVERYTHING THEY DREAMED OF DOING, SO THEY CAN WALK INTO EVERY OFFICE IN EVERY BUILDING AND HAVE HOMES AND EAT AND BE WARM.

THIS IS WHAT THIS DREAM WAS ABOUT.

THIS IS THE WORK THAT WE AVE AHEAD OF US.

SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON Dr. KING'S DAY, A DAY FOR US TO REFLECT AND THINK TOGETHER ON THIS 37th ANNIVERSARY.

RIGHT NOW I WANT TO BRING TO THE STAGE OUR SENATOR TINA SMITH, WHO WILL SHARE A FEW WORDS WITH YOU.

[ Applause ] >> HELLO, EVERYONE!

THANK YOU, CHANDA.

I WANT TO JUST THANK ALL OF OUR HONORED SPEAKERS AND GUESTS AND ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY TO HELP TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF Dr. KING.

YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS STRUCK AS WE CELEBRATE Dr. KING'S BIRTHDAY BY HOW WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON HIS WORK IN CIVIL RIGHTS AND HIS MESSAGE OF LOVE AND NONVIOLENCE.

LET'S BE HONEST, THAT'S A COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR US TO BE.

IT IS EASY TO FORGET THAT AT THE TIME OF HIS ASSASSINATION, Dr. KING AD BEEN INCREASINGLY SEEN BY WHITE PEOPLE AS DANGEROUS AND REVOLUTIONARY PERSON BECAUSE OF HIS GROWING FOCUS ON ECONOMIC, AS WELL AS SOCIAL JUSTICE.

HIS GREAT "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH DELIVERED FROM THE STEPS F THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL BEFORE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE IS OFTEN QUOTED, BUT LET'S REMEMBER PEOPLE EMEMBER MUCH LESS THAT THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON WAS CALLED THE MARCH FOR JOBS AND FREEDOM.

Dr. KING'S SPEECH DREW THE THROUGH LINE BETWEEN RACIAL JUSTICE AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND TOLD US THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON BOTH OF THEM TOGETHER.

IN 1966, Dr. KING WORKED WITH AMERICA'S LABOR UNIONS TO RELEASE A BOOKLET CALLED A FREEDOM BUDGET OR ALL AMERICANS ," WHICH PROPOSED A SECOND NEW DEAL TO PROMOTE JOB GROWTH AT LIVING WAGES.

HE CALLED THIS WORK THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN.

TO PROMOTE AN ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS FOR AMERICANS WITH FIVE PILLARS.

A MEANINGFUL JOB WITH LIVING WAGE.

A SECURE AND ADEQUATE INCOME FOR EVERYONE.

ACCESS TO LAND, ACCESS TO CAPITAL, ESPECIALLY FOR POOR PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND THE ABILITY FOR REGULAR PEOPLE TO PLAY A TRULY MEANINGFUL ROLE IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.

Dr. KING SAW IT CLEARLY AND CALLED OUT HE ECONOMICS OF RACISM AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RACE AND CLASS, THE VAST DISPARITIES IN EALTH AND OPPORTUNITY THAT ARE NOT AN ACCIDENT OF OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS.

THEY ARE DESIGNED THAT WAY.

HE PREACHED THAT WE SHOULD WAKE UP TO THIS REALITY AND TAKE ACTION TO FIX IT.

NOW, TODAY IN "THE NEW YORK TIMES," THEOLOGIAN S.M.

McCAULEY REMINDS US THAT FOUR DAYS BEFORE Dr. KING'S ASSASSINATION, HE GAVE SPEECH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., CALLED, REMAINING AWAKE THROUGH A GREAT REVOLUTION.

IN HIS SPEECH, HE PREACHED THAT TOO MANY AMERICANS WERE SLEEPING WHEN WE SHOULD BE AWAKE TO THE GREAT ECONOMIC INJUSTICES AROUND US.

AND WE SHOULD DEMAND CHANGE.

Dr. KING POINTED TO THE DEEP DISPARITIES IN WEALTH AND LAND OWNERSHIP AND HOME OWNERSHIP AND URGED US TO SEE THIS FOR WHAT IT IS, THE LEGACY OF SLAVERY AND DISCRIMINATION, THAT WE HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR.

THAT IS WHAT REPARATIONS MEAN.

IT IS THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN THAT REVEREND BARBER LEADS TODAY.

SO TODAY WE MUST RECOMMIT OURSELVES O REPAIRING THE ECONOMIC INJUSTICE AND WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

IN THE PAST 15 YEARS, BLACK HOME OWNERSHIP RATES HAVE DECLINED TO LEVELS NOT SEEN SINCE THE 1960s WHEN REDLINING AND RACE-BASED DISCRIMINATION WAS STILL LEGAL.

AND TODAY, TODAY THE WEALTHIEST 1% OF AMERICANS CONTROL 31.9% OF ALL THE WEALTH.

THE BOTTOM 50, HALF OF AMERICANS, HOLD ONLY 3.4% OF AMERICA'S NET WEALTH.

SO WE HAVE ORK TO DO.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO.

THIS DEEP DISPARITY, BAKED INTO OUR SYSTEM, IS HOLDING BACK BLACK PEOPLE AND POOR PEOPLE IN THOUSANDS OF WAYS.

EDUCATION, JOBS, HEALTHCARE, LIFE EXPECTANCY, OPPORTUNITY.

AND, SO, MINNESOTA, IT IS FITTING THAT TODAY ON Dr. KING'S BIRTHDAY, WE WAKE UP TO OUR MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE ACTION ON WEALTH INEQUALITY AND WE CAN, WE CAN DO THIS, WITH INTENTION, WE CAN DISMANTLE THE BARRIERS THAT HOLD BACK BLACK PEOPLE TODAY.

WE CAN ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN FINANCIAL SERVICES, WE CAN ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION IN ACCESS TO CAPITAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP.

WE CAN ROOT OUT SYSTEMIC RACISM IN BANKING ND HOUSING AND HEALTHCARE AND EVERY PLACE THAT IT OCCURS.

WE CAN DO THAT.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE.

IN THE SENATE, I WORKED WITH MY COLLEAGUE RAPHAEL WARNOCK TO PASS THE JUSTICE FOR BLACK FARMERS ACT, TO CHANGE HISTORIC DISCRIMINATION AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

WHEN WE PASSED ALSO DURING THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT, HEN WE PASSED THE EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT IN 2021, AT THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, WE REDUCED CHILD POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY BY 0%.

THAT HAPPENED.

WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN DO THAT AGAIN.

[ Applause ] IN HIS LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL IN 1963, Dr. KING WROTE, "FREEDOM IS NEVER VOLUNTARILY GIVEN BY THE OPPRESSOR.

IT MUST BE DEMANDED BY THE OP PRESSED -- OPPRESSED."

TODAY AS WE REMEMBER AND HONOR Dr. KING ON HIS BIRTHDAY, LET'S ALL DEMAND THE CHANGE THAT WE NEED, AND LET US COMMIT TO TAKING THE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE ACTION THAT WE MUST TO BUILD A MORE JUST AND FAIR SOCIETY.

OUR VOICES ARE STRONG, OUR ACTIONS ARE STRONG, TOO.

LET'S USE OUR STRENGTH TO MAKE THE CHANGE WE NEED THAT IS THE PROMISE OF THIS COUNTRY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GATHERING HERE TODAY ON Dr. KING'S BIRTHDAY.

I'M HONORED TO BE WITH YOU ALL.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, SENATOR, FOR THOSE INSPIRING WORDS AND WE'RE THRILLED NEXT TO WELCOME ANOTHER ONE OF OR SPONSORS FOR TODAY, BUT ALSO ONE OF THE COMPANIES IN MINNESOTA THAT JUST SHOWS UP ON THIS ISSUE AND ON SO ANY OTHERS, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING TO THE STAGE, EQUITY AND COMMUNITY SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR 3M, JAMES MOMON.

[ Applause ] >> ALL RIGHT, OOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

AS WAS NOTED, MY NAME IS JAMES MOMON, CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER AT 3M.

WHAT AN HONOR IT IS TO JOIN YOU ALL IN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AT 3M WE ARE GUIDED BY OUR PURPOSE OF UNLOCKING THE POWER OF PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND SCIENCE TO REIMAGINE WHAT'S POSSIBLE.

AND ADVANCING EQUITY IN OUR COMPANY AND IN OUR COMMUNITY IS A CRITICAL PART OF THAT PURPOSE.

CELEBRATING THE LEGACY OF Dr. KING OFFERS YET ANOTHER REMINDER AND OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES TO A MORE EQUITABLE TWIN CITIES AND STATE OF MINNESOTA IN 2023.

AT 3M, I'M PROUD OF HOW WE CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON OUR COMMITMENTS AROUND DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO S.T.E.M.

AND SCIENCE EDUCATION, FOR UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS DELIVERING JUST OVER A MILLION EXPERIENCES IN 2022, WELL ON OUR WAY OF DELIVERING FIVE MILLION BY 2025.

A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR US IS INTENDED O INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS ABOUT THE POWER OF SCIENCE AND INSTILL THE BELIEF THAT THEIR UNIQUE GIFTS AND EXPERIENCES ARE AN ASSET TO THE SCIENCE COMMUNITY.

CREATING OPPORTUNITY FOR GREAT-PAYING JOBS.

MORE THAN A QUARTER OF THOSE LEARNING EXPERIENCES OCCURRED WITH NONPROFIT PARTNERS BASED HERE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING TWIN CITIES AND SPECIFICALLY St. PAUL COMMUNITY NONPROFITS.

WE'VE INVESTED MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN THAT EFFORT.

I'M ALSO PROUD OF 3Mers BASED IN THE GREAT STATE OF MINNESOTA SUPPORTING MINNESOTA-BASED NONPROFITS WITH MORE THAN 80,000 HOURS OF VOLUNTEER SERVICE.

THAT'S TRANSLATED INTO OVER $560,000 IN MATCHING GIFTS TO THOSE NONPROFITS.

BUT EQUITY DOESN'T START WITH JUST THE EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO CREATE EQUITY IN OUR WORKFORCE AS WELL.

AND AS A COMPANY, WE'RE PROUD TO SAY WE'VE ACHIEVED GLOBAL PAY EQUITY FOR WOMEN AND PAY EQUITY FOR UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS HERE IN THE U.S. [ Applause ] THANK YOU.

AND EACH OF OUR FOUR BUSINESS GROUPS HAS TAKEN THE CHALLENGE OF EQUITY IN THEIR BUSINESS, LEVERAGING THEIR RESOURCES AND CAPABILITIES TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES, HOME OWNERSHIP, URBAN SAFETY, AND SKILLED TRADES ACCESS.

WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT MORE WORK TO DO, IN OUR COMPANY AND IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER THAT WE STAND FOR JUSTICE AND THAT WE STAND WITH AND FOR EACH OTHER.

EVERY DAY WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE CHANGE.

ON BEHALF OF 3M, THANK YOU FOR ALL -- THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MAKING OUR STATE A ORE JUST AND EQUITABLE ONE.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, THANK YOU, JAMES.

IT IS MY PLEASURE NEXT TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE, STEVE SIMON.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU ALL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND THE LEGACY OF Dr. KING AND TO BE PART OF AN EVENT THAT'S CENTERED ON THE THEME OF BUILDING WEALTH.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT THEME BECAUSE IT CONNECTS TO SO MUCH ELSE.

YOU MAY KNOW THAT WE LIKE TO SAY IN THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE THAT WE ARE IN THE DEMOCRACY BUSINESS.

AND A FEW YEARS AGO, IN OUR OFFICE, OUR DIRECTOR OF VOTER OUTREACH DID A DEEP DIVE INTO VOTER TURNOUT TRENDS AND STATISTICS AND NUMBERS IN MINNESOTA.

HE LOOKED AT A BUNCH OF DATA.

CENSUS DATA, SURVEY DATA, YOU NAME IT.

A LOT.

AND HE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE FACTORS THAT EXPLAINED HIGH TURNOUT IN MINNESOTA AND THE FACTORS THAT EXPLAINED LOW VOTER TURNOUT IN MINNESOTA.

AND THE RESULTS WERE SOMEWHAT SURPRISING.

HE FOUND THAT THE FACTORS THAT MOST DIRECTLY EXPLAINED VOTER TURNOUT PATTERNS IN MINNESOTA WERE GENERALLY NOT GEOGRAPHY OR ETHNICITY OR RACE OR AGE.

INSTEAD, THE TOP FACTORS, THE REAL CONNECTORS WERE EDUCATION LEVEL, HOME OWNERSHIP, AND WEALTH.

EDUCATION LEVEL, HOME OWNERSHIP, AND WEALTH.

IN THE YEAR 2023, THAT IS NOT RIGHT.

AND IT TELLS US A LOT ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO TOGETHER.

BUILDING WEALTH BRINGS ECONOMIC SECURITY, YES, OF COURSE.

BUT WE NOW KNOW THAT IT ALSO HELPS TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY.

AND Dr. KING KNEW THIS.

HE ABSOLUTELY KNEW THIS.

HE KNEW ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT AND UNDERSTOOD THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CIVIL RIGHTS AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

HE ONCE OBSERVED THAT APATHY COMES FROM A FEELING OF POWERLESSNESS, AND WHAT HE CALLED, QUOTE, THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE MYTH THAT ABUNDANCE IS NOT AVAILABLE.

WE CAN DO BETTER IN MINNESOTA.

AND WE CAN DO BETTER IN AMERICA.

WE CAN PROVIDE MORE PEOPLE THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO BUILD STABILITY AND SECURITY AND WEALTH.

ON THIS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY, LET'S RESOLVE, ALL OF US, TO RECOMMIT OURSELVES IN HIS NAME, TO TRULY EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND FOR ABUNDANCE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[ Applause ] >> ALL RIGHT.

NOW I AM HERE TO WELCOME TO THE STAGE OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL, KEITH ELLISON.

[ Applause ] >> HEY, EVERYBODY!

HOW YOU ALL DOIN'!

YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS A KID, I HEARD MY MOTHER AND HER FAMILY MEMBERS TALKING AND THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T GO TO THAT WHITE CHURCH, SHE SAID THAT SEVERAL TIMES.

I SAID, MOM, WHAT WOULD E THE PROBLEM WITH GOING TO A WHITE CHURCH?

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE A WHITE BUILDING, OU GO IN THERE.

SHE SAID, NO, HONEY.

THAT'S A CHURCH THAT WE CAN'T ENTER INTO.

AND WON'T BE WELCOME.

WHICH BLEW MY MIND, AND SHE, MY MOM SAID, WHAT YOU JUST ASKED ME REMINDS ME WHEN I ASKED MY MOM ABOUT GOING TO THE COLORED WATER FOUNTAIN.

I THOUGHT IT WAS COLORS.

MY MOM SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WAS PURPLE, YELLOW, GREEN.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PEOPLE LIKE US HAD TO ONLY GO THERE.

AND, SO, I WANTED TO -- I WANT TO JUST TELL YOU, WITHIN ABOUT TWO MINUTES, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CONTEXT BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A KID, YOU COULD REALLY NOT GET WHY WE'RE HERE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

HERE'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

IT'S ALL ABOUT 250 YEARS OF SLAVERY, IN WHICH IF YOU RAN AWAY, YOU'D BE COMMITTING A CRIME, A CRIME OF WHAT?

STEALING YOURSELF.

IT WAS ENFORCED AND MAINTAINED THROUGH RAW TORTURE ENFORCED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT, NOT BY SOME INDIVIDUAL RACIST PERSON, BUT BY THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

AND IF YOU RAN AWAY, AND YOU GOT CAUGHT, THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW TO RETURN YOU RIGHT BACK.

AND IF YOU HAPPENED TO BE A FREE BLACK PERSON, YOU BETTER WATCH OUT BECAUSE THEY MIGHT KIDNAP YOU AND SELL YOU BACK INTO SLAVERY.

IT WAS A CRIME FOR ANY WHITE PERSON TO TEACH A BLACK PERSON TO READ AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY A CRIME FOR A BLACK PERSON TO LEARN TO READ, AND IF YOU DID IT, THEY WILL BEAT YOU.

I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND WHY MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS A BIG DEAL.

BECAUSE FOR 100 YEARS AFTER THAT, YOU THINK, OKAY, WELL, THAT REALLY WAS HORRIBLE, BUT IT ALL ENDED WHEN SLAVERY ENDED.

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

IT WENT ON FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS, CALLED JIM CROW SEGREGATION, WHERE YOU COULDN'T SIT WHERE YOU WANTED TO ON THE BUS, ALTHOUGH YOU PAID THE FARE.

YOU COULDN'T GO TO USE THE AMENITIES OF THE CITY, EVEN THOUGH YOU PAID YOUR TAXES.

THEY WOULD NOT LET YOU SWIM IN THE LOCAL POOL.

I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU WHY MARTIN LUTHER KING IS A BIG DEAL.

IF YOU WERE A BLACK PARENT AND YOUR CHILD SAID, I WANT TO GO TO THE FUN TOWN OR THE AMUSEMENT PARK, YOU HAD TO TELL YOUR BABY, HONEY, THEY DON'T LET US GO THERE.

EXCEPT FOR ON ONE DAY OF THE WEEK.

BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT OUR VERY PRESENCE WAS SOMEHOW POLLUTING.

AND THEN THEY HAD A PHILOSOPHY WHERE THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU IN AMERICA, IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU'LL BUILD WEALTH, YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL, AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE WEALTH, IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY AND DON'T WORK HARD.

WHO WORKED HARDER THAN THE ENSLAVED PERSON?

SO THEY DO THIS MIND GAME ON YOU TO MAKE YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE THE PROBLEM WHO DOESN'T WANT TO WORK, WHEN YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS WORKING ON THAT PLANTATION.

- [ Cheers and applause ] SO, WHY WAS MARTIN LUTHER KING A BIG DEAL?

BECAUSE HE LED A MOVEMENT THAT INCLUDED THOUSANDS, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, NOT JUST HIM, WHO CONFRONTED JIM CROW SEGREGATION AND DEFEATED JIM CROW SEGREGATION.

NOW, I NOW SOME OF Y'ALL ARE THINKING, THEY DIDN'T DEFEAT RACISM.

THAT'S TRUE.

HE DID NOT DEFEAT RACISM.

IT'S STILL KICKIN' HARD.

BUT JUST REMEMBER THIS, AS WE TALK ABOUT BUILDING WEALTH, AND I'M GOING TO STOP RIGHT NOW, THE FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION, SAY, FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION -- >> FEDERAL HOUSING ADMINISTRATION.

>> SAID, WE WILL NOT INSURE ANY MORTGAGES ON ANY HOUSES THAT DO NOT CONTAIN A RACIALLY RESTRICTIVE COVENANT.

AND THEY DREW RED LINES ROUND THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY WOULD NOT INSURE ANY MORTGAGES.

WHICH MEANT, WHITE SOLDIERS COMING OUT OF WORLD WAR II COULD GET A HOME LOAN FOR 3% OR LESS OR A V.A.

LOAN AND BUILD WEALTH IN THEIR HOUSE, AND BLACK G.I.s, THE SAME ONES, WERE CONSIGNED TO BEING RENTERS FOR GENERATIONS.

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S -- OW WE BUILD SOME BLACK WEALTH?

THE F.H.A.

NEEDS TO SAY IT WAS SORRY FOR DISCRIMINATING AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE IN GETTING HOME MORTGAGES AND THEN MAKE UP FOR IT.

[ Applause ] THERE'S NO OTHER WAY!

THERE'S NO OTHER WAY.

AND IT WAS ONE, IT'S ROVEN, PEOPLE WANT TO SAY, OH, WELL, SLAVERY, WE CAN'T DO REPARATIONS FOR SLAVERY, SLAVERY'S NOT THE LAST CORRESPONDSABLE THING THEY DID TO BLACK PEOPLE.

AND THIS IS THE LAST THING I'LL SAY, AS THEY DRAGGED AFRICANS FROM WEST AFRICA TO WORK, THEY WORKED ON LAND, WHOSE AND, WHAT LAND?

WE MUST DO THESE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T MAKE YOU WORK IN MISSISSIPPI UNLESS THEY STOLE THE LAND FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE!

AND DON'T EVER -- DON'T EVER DISCONNECT SLAVERY IN LAND SEIZURE FROM NATIVE PEOPLES, THEY ARE THE SAME -- ONE COIN, TWO SIDES.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

SO NOW THAT I'VE STARTED A BUNCH OF TROUBLE, I'LL SEE Y'ALL LATER.

BYE-BYE.

[ Applause ] >> THAT'S GOOD TROUBLE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL ELLISON, THANK YOU OR THAT.

NEXT UP WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME STATE AUDITOR, JULIE BLAHA.

[ Applause ] >> OH, MY GOSH, ARE YOU AS INSPIRED AS I AM?

LET'S HEAR IT AGAIN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL KEITH ELLISON?

[ Cheers and applause ] SO WHEN YOU HEAR ALL THAT, YOU MIGHT BE THINKING, WHERE DO I START?

I HAVE ONE WORD FOR YOU.

LOCAL.

NOW, WHEN I ANNOUNCED THE AUDITOR, I KNOW MOST OF YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T THINKING, OH, SHE OVERSEES $60 BILLION IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING, MOSTLY AT THE CITY, TOWN, SCHOOL DISTRICT, COUNTY AND LOCAL LEVEL.

YOU WERE THINKING, WHY IS THE STATE AUDITOR HERE?

OKAY.

I GET IT, IT'S OKAY.

WELL, I'M HERE BECAUSE, LIKE SO MANY OF YOU, I'M JUST A REGULAR PERSON WHO WANTS TO DO GOOD.

AND THERE IS PLENTY OF GOOD WORK FOR ALL OF US TO DO.

YOU KNOW, Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS STANDING UP FOR SANITATION WORKERS, PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, AT THE END.

NOW, IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DO FOR WORKING PEOPLE IF YOU WERE ON YOUR -- ON YOUR CITY COUNCIL, THE ONE THAT BARGAINS THOSE CONTRACTS.

THINK OF HOW THE DIGNITY YOU COULD BUILD BY WORKING FOR FAIR PAY.

YOU KNOW, A KEY COMPONENT OF BUILDING BLACK WEALTH IS HOME OWNERSHIP.

IMAGINE WHAT YOU OULD DO IF YOU WERE ON YOUR LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITY OR YOUR CITY'S PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD.

THINK OF THE BARRIERS TO HOME OWNERSHIP THAT YOU OULD KNOCK DOWN IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU KNOW, CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT AFFECTING ALL OF US EQUALLY.

IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD DO AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER TO BRING CLEAN ENERGY TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

RACISM CAN BE ANYWHERE, SO OUR SOLUTIONS HAVE TO BE EVERYWHERE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOU AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, WHERE WE BUILD THE EVERYDAY THINGS THAT AFFECT US CLOSEST TO HOME.

SO, WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GET TO WORK, THINK LOCAL.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> THANK YOU, JULIE.

AND NOW WE ARE HERE TO INTRODUCE JOVONTA PATTON, THE ONE AND ONLY JOVONTA PATTON, WHO WILL BRING US A MUSICAL ACT.

AND I BELIEVE HE'S BACK THERE.

SO, JOVONTA.

[ Applause ] >> HAPPY MLK DAY!

SO GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY.

COME ON, GIVE YOURSELVES A HAND.

YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL.

I'M GOING TO DO THIS SONG, IT'S CALLED WINNER, ALL RIGHT.

ANY WINNERS IN THE ROOM?

[ Cheers ] [ MUSIC ] LYRICS: I HAVE PURPOSE, I HAVE DESTINY, I HAVE GREATNESS INSIDE OF ME.

I WON'T BE DEFEATED.

I WILL SUCCEED.

THIS I DECLARE AND THIS I BELIEVE.

THAT'S ALL THE SONG IS.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE ONE BIG CHOIR TODAY.

COME ON, SING IT WITH ME.

SAY, I HAVE PURPOSE.

LYRICS: I HAVE PURPOSE.

I HAVE DESTINY.

I HAVE GREATNESS.

SAY, INSIDE OF ME.

INSIDE OF ME.

I WON'T BE DEFEATED.

I WON'T BE DEFEATED.

I WILL SUCCEED.

I WILL SUCCEED.

THIS I DECLARE.

THIS I DECLARE.

THIS I BELIEVE.

THIS I BELIEVE.

THAT'S ALL THE THE SONG IS.

GIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR A HAND.

AND SAY, YOU'RE GONNA SING IT WITH US THIS TIME.

LET'S TAKE IT UP.

OH, I HAVE COURAGE, I HAVE DESTINY, I HAVE GREATNESS.

SAY, INSIDE OF ME.

INSIDE OF ME.

EVERYBODY, I WON'T BE DEFEATED.

I WILL SUCCEED.

THIS I DECLARE.

THIS I BELIEVE.

NOW YOU GOT ONE LAST TIME TO TRY TO SING IT WITH US.

AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT UP AGAIN.

SAY, I HAVE COURAGE.

I HAVE DESTINY.

I HAVE GREATNESS.

INSIDE OF ME.

I WON'T BE DEFEATED.

I WILL SUCCEED.

THIS I DECLARE.

THIS I BELIEVE.

I AM, I AM A WINNER.

CAN YOU PUT YOUR HANDS TOGETHER LIKE THIS.

EVERYBODY, SAY, I AM.

I AM.

YES, I AM.

I M A WINNER.

ALL THE WINNERS, CLAP YOUR HANDS RIGHT THERE.

EVERYBODY, SAY, YEAH.

I AM.

YES, I AM.

I AM A WINNER.

YEAH, YEAH.

SAY, I AM.

I AM.

YES, I AM.

I AM A WINNER.

YEAH, BUSINESS I AM A WINNER.

I AM A WINNER.

- I AM A WINNER.

I AM A WINNER.

EVERYBODY DECLARE IT AND SAY I AM.

I AM.

YEAH.

I AM A WINNER.

OH, OH, OH, OH, OH.

I WON'T BE DEFEATED.

I WILL SUCCEED.

THIS I DECLARE.

HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING.

THIS WAS HIS DREAM.

TO SEE US SING TOGETHER, BE IN ONE ROOM.

WE'RE ALL WINNERS TODAY BECAUSE OF HIS DREAM, BECAUSE OF HIS PUSH.

AND BEFORE I LEAVE, I WANT TO SING A PEACE OF THIS -- A PIECE OF THIS SONG.

BUT HE WOULD DO A LOT OF FUND-RAISERS AND HIS FAMOUS SINGER WAS THIS LATER NAMED MAHALIAH JACKSON.

AND SHE WOULD HELP OUT.

AND ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SONGS FOR HER TO SING, I THINK IT WAS HIS FAVORITE, IT AS FRESH LORD, AND IT WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

LYRICS: PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND.

LEAD, LEAD ME ON AND LET ME STAND.

I, I AM TIRED.

I AM WEAK.

I AM WORN.

THROUGH THE STORM, THROUGH THE NIGHT, LEAD ME ON INTO THE LIGHT.

PRECIOUS LORD, SOMEBODY LIFT UP YOUR WORSHIP RIGHT THERE.

PRECIOUS LORD.

TAKE MY HAND AND LEAD, EAD ME HOME.

NOW, IF I WAS AT CHURCH, I WOULD SAY, SOMEBODY OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND GIVE GOD A PRAISE.

HALLELUJAH, GOD BLESS YOU.

[ Applause ] >> LET'S GIVE IT UP ONE MORE TIME FOR JOVONTA PATTON, WOW!

[ Applause ] WELL, IF ANYBODY CAN FOLLOW THAT, I THINK IT IS THE MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY WE'RE GATHERED IN HERE TODAY, St. PAUL MAYOR MELVIN CARTER.

[ Applause ] >> GOOD MORNING!

>> GOOD MORNING!

>> AND WELCOME TO THE INCREDIBLE CITY OF St. PAUL!

I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE AND SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE SPACE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY.

TO SHARE SPACE WITH ALL OF THE INCREDIBLE TALENT AND INCREDIBLE LEADERS WHO HAVE GRACED THIS STAGE TODAY.

PLEASE GIVE ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE.

[ Applause ] I JOKE OFTEN THAT MUCH OF WHAT'S HAPPENED DURING HE TIME THAT 'VE BEEN MAYOR WASN'T ON THE PROGRAM, WASN'T ON THE BROCHURE WHEN I RAN FOR MAYOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WERE SEEKING TO GUIDE THE CAPITAL CITY OF THIS STATE, OF THIS NORTH STAR STATE THROUGH A PANDEMIC.

WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE WOULD SEE NOT TOO FAR FROM HERE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ALL OF THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH ALL OF THE DISPARITIES THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE US IN St. PAUL, N MINNESOTA, IN THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE ON FULL DISPLAY IN OUR COUNTRY, IN OUR WORLD, AND RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ALSO DIDN'T KNOW THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THAT TRAUMA, THAT THOSE CRISES WOULD CREATE FOR US, THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO FINALLY FACE DECADES, GENERATIONS OF DISPARITIES THAT OUR STATE, OUR COMMUNITY HAS IGNORED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT DOESN'T JUST CELEBRATE MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY ONCE A YEAR, BUT I'M PROUD TO LIVE IN A CITY THAT HONORS HIS LEGACY BY RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE, THAT HONORS HIS LEGACY BY PILOTING GUARANTEED INCOME, THAT HONORS HIS EGACY BY PUTTING MONEY INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THAT HONORS HIS LEGACY BY STARTING EVERY CHILD BORN IN OUR CITY WITH $50 IN A COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT, THAT HONORS HIS LEGACY BY REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGH RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CIRCLES AND THROUGH ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO 911 CALLS.

[ Applause ] SOMETIMES WE LOOK AT RACIAL INJUSTICE AND THINK THAT THAT'S A THING, Mr.

GOVERNOR, THAT HAPPENED DOWN SOUTH OR WE THINK THAT THAT'S A THING, MADAM LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, THAT HAPPENED SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD OR SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY OR A PROBLEM FOR THEM TO DEAL WITH ON THE COAST AND WE DON'T ALWAYS COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE REALITIES THAT MANY HISTORIC AND TERRIBLE TRAGEDIES HAVE OCCURRED RIGHT HERE IN OUR HOME STATE.

AS A SON OF St. PAUL, MINNESOTA, I GROUP UP -- I GREW UP HEARING THE STORIES OF OLD RONDO, YOU KNOW, THE HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY THAT WAS UPROOTED TO BUILD THAT FREEWAY, THE I-94 FREEWAY THAT MANY OF US TOOK ON OUR WAY HERE THIS MORNING.

I HEARD ABOUT THOSE STORIES, AND I GREW UP HEARING THE PUBLIC APOLOGIES AND A PUBLIC RECOGNITION THAT A WRONG HAS BEEN DONE.

I GREW UP SEEING THOSE STUDIES THAT SAID, IT'S NOT JUST A SOCIAL WRONG, BUT IT'S AN ECONOMIC WRONG THAT STOLE, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINES OF OVER $100 MILLION OF WEALTH IN TODAY'S DOLLARS FROM OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, IT STRUCK ME THAT WE GIVE APOLOGIES FOR TAKING MONEY BUT WE HAVEN'T RESTORED MONEY.

[ Applause ] AND, SO, I'LL BE BRIEF.

BUT IN KEEPING WITH THE THEME TODAY, BUILDING BLACK WEALTH, I'M HONORED TO SAY OUT LOUD IN A MICROPHONE FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY THAT THIS WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, AT THEIR MEETING F OUR CITY COUNCIL, OF OUR HOUSING AND REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, OUR CITY COUNCIL PASSED OUR INHERITANCE FUND PROPOSAL, WHICH WILL PROVIDE UP TO $100,000 IN FORGIVABLE FINANCING FOR DESCENDENTS OF OLD RONDO TO PURCHASE A HOME AND BEGIN BUILDING WEALTH.

[ Cheers and applause ] WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON OURSELVES.

WE ARE DOUBLING DOWN ON OUR CHILDREN, ON OUR FAMILIES, ON OUR WORKERS, ON OUR BUSINESSES, ON OUR ENTREPRENEURS, ON OUR IDEAS, ON THE UNLIMITED POTENTIAL THAT EXISTS WITHIN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN St. PAUL AND I'M HONORED THAT SO MANY OF YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS WALK WITH US.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MORE -- YOU KNOW WE HAVE MORE TO GO, WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO, WE HEARD A THEME THIS MORNING THAT SAID, WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, IF YOU CAN'T FLY, THEN YOU MUST RUN, IF YOU MUST RUN -- IF YOU CAN'T RUN, THEN YOU MUST WALK, IF YOU CAN'T WALK, YOU MUST CRAWL.

I AM PLEASED TO BE IN A CITY, Mr.

GOVERNOR, I'M PLEASED TO LIVE IN A STATE THAT WE KNOW WILL ALWAYS KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY TO YOU ALL.

[ Applause ] >> WELL, THANK OU, MAYOR CARTER, AND IT IS MY PLEASURE NEXT TO WELCOME OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER.

WE'RE THRILLED TO WELCOME ANNA GIFTY POKU-AGYEMAN, HERE FROM THE GREAT HALLS OF HARVARD.

SHE HAS GOTTEN ON A PLANE AND COME TO THE MIDWEST HERE, MINNESOTA, A STATE THAT SHE HAS SOME HISTORY OF IN, AS YOU'LL HEAR AS SHE TALKS HERE IN JUST A MOMENT.

WE ARE SO EXCITED TO HAVE ANNA HERE TODAY.

AS A CHILD, SHE MOVED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO DEMAND A, WHERE SHE WAS -- GHANA, WHERE SHE WAS BORN, A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SHE'S A LIFE-LONG LEARNER.

IN 2018, ANNA CO-FOUNDED THE NONPROFIT, SADIE COLLECTIVE, WHICH AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BLACK WOMEN WORKING IN QUANTITATIVE DATA FIELDS, INCLUDING ECONOMICS, DATA SCIENCE, AND PUBLIC POLICY.

IN 2020, SHE CO-FOUNDED AND CO-ORGANIZED BLACK BIRDERS WEEK, A SERIES OF ONLINE EVENTS ORGANIZED TO CELEBRATE BLACK BIRDERS, NATURALISTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS.

HER AIM WAS TO IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY OF BLACK PEOPLE IN NON-STEREOTYPICAL SITUATIONS, AND TO ADVOCATE FOR SCIENCE ORGANIZATIONS TO GIVE BLACK PEOPLE THE PLATFORM AND RESOURCES TO ENGAGE IN OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.

AND AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, SHE EDITED "THE BLACK AGENDA: BOLD SOLUTIONS FOR A BROKEN SYSTEM," THE FIRST COLLECTION TO EXCLUSIVELY FEATURE BLACK SCHOLARS AND EXPERTS ACROSS ECONOMICS, EDUCATION, HEALTH, CLIMATE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND TECHNOLOGY.

DID I MENTION, SHE'S ONLY 26 YEARS OLD?

FOLLOWING ANNA'S KEYNOTE ADDRESS, CHANDA SMITH BAKER WILL HOLD A Q&A SESSION ABOUT HOW WE "BUILD BLACK WEALTH" IN MINNESOTA AND BEYOND.

PLEASE HELP ME WELCOME, ANNA GIFTY OPOKU-AGYEMAN!

[ Applause ] >> WOW!

OH, MY GOODNESS!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AMAZING INTRODUCTION!

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!

I GUESS, AFTERNOON, RIGHT?

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE!

AND HAPPY, HAPPY NEW YEAR.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I JUST WANT TO DO A QUICK VIBE CHECK.

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Y'ALL CAN SHOUT IT OUT.

ARE Y'ALL GOOD?

OKAY.

JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE.

WITH THE PANDEMIC SOARING ONCE AGAIN, TWITTER ALMOST IN SHAMBLES, CARDY B.

RIGHTFULLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THE RISING PRICE OF LETTUCE AND THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS HAVING ONE OF THE BEST COMEBACKS IN FOOTBALL HISTORY, WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH IT.

SO I JUST WANTED TO CHECK IN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE ALL DOING ALL RIGHT.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, U.S. BANK, AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR HOSTING THE CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF HE INCOMPARABLE AND INSPIRING Dr. AND REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

I ALSO WANT TO THANK GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR PEGGY FLANAGAN AND D.E.E.D.

COMMISSIONER STEVE GROVE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

PLANNING ANY EVENT REQUIRES LOTS OF WORK.

BUT AN EVENT OF THIS SCALE, IT REQUIRES A HER CUE LEAN LEVEL OF PATIENCE.

SO, PLEASE, LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A HAND.

HERCULEAN.

SO IT'S SUCH A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY, THIS MOMENT RIGHT HERE IS NOT ONLY SPECIAL, BUT ALSO FULL CIRCLE.

FOR ONE THING, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME MY FAMILY IS WITNESSING ME SPEAK IN FRONT OF AN IN-PERSON CROWD, WHICH MEANS THAT WHEN I GET OFF THIS STAGE, MY DAD IS PROBABLY GOING TO WHIP OUT HIS iPAD AND TELL ME SOME NOTES THAT HE HAD ABOUT MY SPEECH.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS STATE, YOUR STATE HOLDS A VERY DEAR PLACE IN MY HEART, AND IN MY JOURNEY.

SEE, THE FIRST PLACE MY FAMILY AND I EMIGRATED TO IN THE UNITED STATES WAS MINNEAPOLIS.

[ CLAPPING ] THANK YOU.

SHOUT TO MINNEAPOLIS!

WHERE WE WERE GREETED BY A LOVING FAMILY MEMBERS, TOO MANY INCHES OF SNOW, AND WINDCHILL THAT IS SHOULD, FRANKLY, BE ILLEGAL.

I MEAN, Y'ALL, MY GLOVES NEEDED GLOVES, OKAY.

FRIGID WEATHER ASIDE, I'M GRATEFUL TO BE BACK TO HONOR THE LATE Dr. KING AND I'M SO HAPPY TO DISCUSS WITH YOU ALL THE PRICE OF IGNORING INJUSTICE IN THIS DEFINING AND UNPRECEDENTED MOMENT IN HISTORY.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO BUSINESS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW A FEW ADDITIONAL THINGS ABOUT ME.

FIRST THING, I'M A SOMEONE WHO SITS BETWEEN THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION AND AGAIN Z.

IN MY -- GEN Z.

IN MY CASE THIS MEANS THAT I KNOW WHAT A FLOPPY DISK IS BUT THANKFULLY I'VE NEVER HAD TO USE ONE.

I'M A PROUD ALUM IN HED START IN THE UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE COUNTY WHERE I MAJORED IN MATHEMATICS, TODAY I'M A PDF STUDENT AT THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT STUDYING PUBLIC POLICY AND ECONOMICS.

OH, THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] I APPRECIATE THAT.

ALMOST A YEAR AGO, I PUBLISHED MY FIRST BOOK, AN EDITED COLLECTION OF HE IS CASE CALLED THE BLACK AGENDA BOLD SOLUTIONS FOR A BROKEN SYSTEM ."

THE BLACK AGENDA IS THE FIRST EVER BOOK FOR A TRADE AUDIENCE TO FEATURE BLACK EXPERTS, ACTIVISTS AND ORGANIZERS WHO HIGHLIGHTED INJUSTICE ACROSS DIFFERENT POLICY AREAS, FROM CLIMATE CHANGE TO EDUCATION TO THE ECONOMY.

IT WAS Dr. KING WHO SAID THAT NJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE.

AND TO BE FRANK WITH YOU, MINNESOTA'S PAST THREE YEARS ARE EMBLEMATIC OF THIS FACT.

IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, MINNESOTA HAS MADE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES, SPECIFICALLY TWO YEARS AGO WHERE WE ALL BORE WITNESS TO THE KNEE THAT PRESSED UP AGAINST GEORGE FLOYD'S NECK FOR EIGHT MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS.

GEORGE FLOYD'S MURDER SPARKED GLOBAL PROTESTS IN SUPPORT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IN ALL AREAS OF LIFE.

THAT WAS 2020.

SINCE THEN, RESEARCHERS HAVE FOUND THAT THE NET SUPPORT FOR BLACK LIVES OF MATTER HAS DECLINED BY AT LEAST TEN PERCENTAGE POINTS.

- "THE WASHINGTON POST" REPORTS THAT OUT OF THE NEARLY $50 BILLION PLEDGED IN SUPPORT OF RACIAL JUSTICE COMPANIES HAVE ONLY DISBURSED ABOUT $1.7 BILLION.

THAT'S BARELY 3% OF WHAT THEY'VE COMMITTED.

AND LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENTS HAVE RECEIVED UNPARALLELED BACKLASH, AS SHOWN BY THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION ND HONESTLY, ANY DAY ON TWITTER.

THERE ARE SO MANY FORCES THAT THREATEN TO UNDO ALL THE WORK WE AS A NATION HAVE DONE TO ADDRESS RACIAL JUSTICE.

WE KEEP TAKING TWO STEPS FORWARD AND RISK TAKING SIX STEPS BACK.

SOMETIMES OUR PATH TOWARDS RACIAL JUSTICE FEELS MORE LIKE THE ELECTRIC SLIDE THAN TRUE PROGRESS.

LIKE WE'RE DANCING AROUND THE ISSUES OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE INSTEAD OF DISMANTLING THEM.

FOR EXAMPLE, INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS ALIKE ARE CHOOSING TO STAY IN PLACE AND ONLY MOVE WHEN THEY ARE PROMPTED TO, WHEN THEY ARE FORCED TO, WHEN THEY ARE DEMANDED TO.

THE EALITY IS, FEATURING A BLACK PERSON IN YOUR BROCHURE WON'T ERASE UNEQUAL PAY IN YOUR WORKPLACE.

HIGHLIGHTING YOUR FAVORITE BLACK-OWNED BRAND -- THANK YOU -- HIGHLIGHTING YOUR FAVORITE BLACK-OWNED BRAND WON'T SINGLY IMPROVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAKE THINGS DIFFICULT FOR THAT BLACK ENTREPRENEUR.

AND THIS KIND OF INACTION GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING THAT Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

BELIEVED AND WHY TODAY I'M GOING TO DISCUSS WHY WE STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO IN FULLY REALIZING Dr. KING'S VISION FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE.

Dr. KING ONCE WARNED US THAT INACTION IS A PROBLEM, BY SAYING, NEGROS IS BENEFITTED FROM LIMITED HANGE THAT WAS EMOTIONALLY SATISFYING UT MATERIALLY DEFICIENT.

AND HE'S RIGHT.

HERE IN MINNESOTA, LIKE MANY PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COVID-19 HAS REVEALED HOW DEEPLY ENTRENCHED ECONOMIC INEQUITIES ARE AND HOW THAT HURTS ALL OF US.

A RECENT REPORT FOUND THAT SINCE 2020, MINNESOTA'S WORKFORCE HAS DECLINED BY 3%.

THERE'S A LOT OF BIG REASONS FOR WHY HAT IS HAPPENING.

THE PRESSURE BEING PLACED ON WORKING MOTHERS WHO HAVE TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE PLACE AT ONCE AND THE WIDENING RACIAL GAP IN UNEMPLOYMENT, TO NAME JUST A FEW.

MINNESOTA'S OWN DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FINDS THAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE THE HIGHEST SHARE OF PART-TIME SEASONAL WORK AS COMPARED TO ALL OTHER GROUPS.

BARRIERS TO ACCESS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ROB THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US AT HAVING A SHOT, A REAL AND MEANINGFUL SHOT AT BUILDING THE LIFE THAT THEY DESIRE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES.

AND I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT EVERYONE WANTS THAT, REGARDLESS OF YOUR RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, RELIGION, OR CREED.

WE ALL WANT THE BEST LIFE FOR OURSELVES AND FOR THOSE WE CARE ABOUT.

BUT OUR BEST LIVES CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IF SUFFERING IS WIDESPREAD.

IF PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN EARN ENOUGH TO HAVE A BED OR TO SLEEP, AS WELL AS GET FOOD TO EAT.

AND THOSE ARE THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES THAT WE AS A COUNTRY ARE FACING ON A MINUTE-BY-MINUTE BASIS, DAY AFTER DAY, YEAR AFTER YEAR.

TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT HERE TO CONVINCE YOU TO JOIN THE AVENGERS AND OLVE THE WORLD'S PROBLEMS.

WHAT I AM ASKING YOU TO DO IS CONSIDER Dr. KING'S KEY MESSAGE.

OUR COLLECTIVE LIBERATION RESTS ON THE ECONOMIC FREEDOM OF BLACK PEOPLE AND BY EXTENSION EVERYONE ELSE.

SO HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY BLACK PEOPLE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD WEALTH?

I CAN SAY ONE THING FOR CERTAIN.

IT IS NOT -- IT DOES NOT INVOLVE JUNETEENTH-FLAVORED ICE CREAM.

I'M LOOKING AT YOU, WAL-MART.

OKAY.

PERHAPS WE SHOULD TAKE A CUE FROM THE MAN WE HONOR TODAY.

IN HIS OWN WORDS, Dr. KING EMPHASIZES THE FOLLOWING.

IT IS EASY TO CONCEIVE OF A PLAN TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE AND, THUS, IN A SINGLE STROKE EXTRACT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FROM POVERTY.

BUT BETWEEN THE CONCEPTION AND THE REALIZATION THERE LIES A FORMIDABLE WALL.

DEPRESSED LIVING STANDARDS FOR NEGROS ARE A STRUCTURAL PART OF THE ECONOMY.

THERE'S NO SILVER BULLET SOLUTION TO DECADES AND CENTURIES OF ANY KIND OF INJUSTICE.

SORRY TO SAY.

INSTEAD, WE HAVE THE CHANCE STILL TO REIMAGINE WHAT BUILDING WEALTH AND ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERING EACH OTHER COULD LOOK LIKE IN THE PRESENT AND THE FUTURE.

WE HAVE A CHANCE STILL TO UPLIFT ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT LEAVING ANYONE BEHIND.

BUT THAT REQUIRES THAT WE BREAK FROM THE LOCK STEP OF INACTION AND ENTER A NEW DANCE FLOOR, IF YOU WILL, ONE CHARACTERIZED BY PROGRESS, PROMISE, AND PREPARATION FOR A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES ALL OF US, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE DECIDE TO GO.

IN MY CONVERSATION, I HOPE TO DISCUSS IN EARNEST, ONE PROMISING IDEA THAT I'VE HELPED CHAMPION OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

BLACK WOMAN BEST.

IT IS SIMPLY THE IDEA THAT THE BEST OUTCOME FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS IS A BETTER OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

WHY?

BECAUSE ALONGSIDE NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN, AS WELL AS LATINA WOMEN, WE ARE WORSE OFF ON NEARLY EVERY SINGLE ECONOMIC MEASURE.

AND AIMING FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE MEANS THAT THOSE WHO ARE BETTER OFF WILL BENEFIT EVEN MORE SO FROM IMPROVING OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

SO I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS.

IF WE ARE TO SEE AN ECONOMICALLY JUST WORLD, ONE WHERE WE ARE FINANCIALLY FREE AND ECONOMICALLY EMPOWERED, THEN WE MUST HEED THE WORDS OF THE MAN WE HONOR TODAY.

ONLY THE NEGLECT TO PLAN INTELLIGENTLY AND ADEQUATELY AND THE UNWILLINGNESS GENUINELY TO EMBRACE ECONOMIC JUSTICE ENABLES IT TO PERSIST.

THANK YOU.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> OKAY.

[ Laughter ] >> THANK YOU.

>> SO THERE'S A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.

AND WE HAVE A LITTLE TIME.

AND SO WHY DON'T WE START WITH WHAT YOU LED, LET'S TALK ABOUT BLACK WOMEN.

>> YES, LET'S TALK ABOUT BLACK WOMEN!

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT BLACK WOMEN.

LET'S TALK ABOUT US, OKAY.

OKAY.

SO, YOU BELIEVE THAT IF BLACK WOMEN ARE CENTERED, TOO, -- >> YES.

>> PROGRESS TO WHAT?

TELL US WHAT YOUR THEORY IS HERE.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS A FRAMEWORK THAT IS CALLED BLACK WOMEN BEST, IT WAS COINED BY JANELLE JONES, IF YOU FOLLOW ANYTHING IN ECONOMICS, YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT NAME, SHE'S THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO BE THE CHIEF ECONOMIST AT THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

AND, SO, THE IDEA HERE IS THAT THE BEST OUTCOME FOR BLACK WOMEN IS A BETTER OUTCOME FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

I'LL GIVE YOU A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

CURRENTLY STUDENT DEBT RELIEF IS BEING STOPPED, RIGHT?

DUE TO WHAT'S GOING ON IN CONGRESS.

AND ONE THING TO THINK BOUT IS, BIODIESELLEN'S PLAN -- BIDEN'S PLAN WENT ONE PHENOMENON STUTTER THAN WHAT WAS ADVERTISED.

$10,000 FORGIVEN, THEY DIDN'T GET AN ADDITIONAL $10,000.

THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF LACK WOMEN BEST ECAUSE BLACK WOMEN AT PRESENT HAVE THE HIGHEST STUDENT DEBT ACROSS ALL GROUPS, ABOUT $40,000.

SO AIMING FOR OUR DEBT RELIEF ACTUALLY COVERS BLACK MEN, LATINA WOMEN, ALL OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE COVERED UNDER THAT UMBRELLA.

>> I APPRECIATE HEARING THAT.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GOT FROM YOUR BOOK, ASIDE FROM THAT, IS THE -- I THINK YOUR BOOK IS THE FIRST BOOK THAT FEATURES BLACK EXPERTS.

>> UM-HUM.

>> AND I WANT YOU TO JUST SHARE WITH US WHY BLACK EXPERTS BEING CENTERED AT THE INTERSECTION OF ALL OF THE AREAS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, CLIMATE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, EDUCATION, WHY DOES THAT BENEFIT EVERYONE TO HAVE BLACK EXPERTS AT THE CENTER OF IT?

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BLACK PEOPLE, CORRECT?

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS NOT JUST FOR BLACK PEOPLE.

IT'S OT JUST FOR BLACK PEOPLE, RIGHT.

IT'S THIS IDEA THAT IF YOU WANT TO FORTIFY THE SYSTEMS THAT SEEK TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF EVERYONE, YOU HAVE TO START WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING MOST HARMED BY THAT SYSTEM.

RIGHT?

SO THAT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE THINKING, JUST OFF OF, FOR EXAMPLE, HURRICANE - KATRINA, THOSE WHO WERE WORSE HIT BY HURRICANE KATRINA WERE MOSTLY BLACK AND BROWN INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE LIVING ON THE COAST, RIGHT?

BUT IMAGINE IF THERE WAS STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE POLICIES OVERALL, THEN ANYBODY WHO'S EVEN LIVING MORE INLAND WOULD HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THOSE POLICIES, IN ADDITION TO THOSE WHO WERE MOST VULNERABLE.

AND, SO, THE IDEA OF PUTTING BLACK EXPERTS AT THE CENTER OF THE CONVERSATION IS THAT THEY BOTH UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE OF POWER AND ALSO WHAT IT MEANS TO EMPOWER THEIR COMMUNITIES.

SO, THEY'RE ABLE TO USE BOTH IN CONJUNCTION TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE THAT'S ACTUALLY MEANINGFUL AND LASTING.

>> MEANING THEY CAN CONTEXTUALIZE THE EXPERIENCE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT.

>> THE LIVED EXPERIENCE.

OKAY.

SO Dr. KING WAS A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER WHO SIMPLY DID NOT LOOK FOR TECHNICAL FIXES TO PROBLEMS.

YOUR BOOK SEEMS TO DO THE SAME.

DID YOU DRAW ON ANY LESSONS FROM Dr. KING OR OTHERS AS YOU CONTEMPLATED THE MODERN-DAY BLACK AGENDA?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH POWER IN A LOT OF THE BLACK LEADERSHIP THAT HAS COME THROUGH THE UNITED STATES, RIGHT?

I ALWAYS SAY THAT THE PLIGHT OF BLACK AMERICANS, AS WELL AS THE CIVIL RIGHTS THAT BLACK AMERICANS HAVE ADVOCATED FOR IS A REALLY GREAT BLUEPRINT FOR THE ENTIRE BLACK DIASPORA GLOBALLY.

AND, SO, TO YOUR POINT, I WOULD SAY THAT, YES, Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., ALONG WITH W.E.B.

DU BOIS AND SEVERAL OTHER BLACK WOMEN IN THIS SPACE HAVE BEEN A HUGE INSPIRATION TO ME AS I WAS SORT OF BRINGING THESE SCHOLARS TOGETHER.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY, TOO, THAT THE WAY THAT THE BOOK CAME ABOUT, WAS THERE WERE TWO CONVERSATIONS HAPPENING RIGHT AT THE START OF THE PANDEMIC.

THERE WAS A CONVERSATION THAT YOU SAW ON CNN AND MSNBC AND MAYBE FOX NEWS, IF THAT'S HAT YOU WATCH, RIGHT, BUT THERE WAS ALSO A CONVERSATION THAT WAS HAPPENING ONLINE AMONGST BLACK AND BROWN EXPERTS WHO HAD PLATFORMS.

A LOT OF THEM WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THE MAINSTREAM WAS NOT REALLY COVERING THE RACIAL INEQUITIES THAT WERE GOING TO ARISE FROM SOMETHING LIKE COVID-19.

SO ONCE AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WHERE IF YOU'RE PUTTING BLACK EXPERTS AT THE HELM OF LEADERSHIP, AT THE HELM OF CONVERSATION, THEY'RE ABLE TO GET A SENSE OF THE BIGGER PICTURE THAT NCLUDES US ALL.

>> AND HOW DO YOU DEFINE BLACK EXPERT?

>> OOH, THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SO, SOME PEOPLE WOULD DEFINE BLACK EXPERTS AS, THEY MUST HAVE A PDF.

PhD.

I DO NOT AGREE WITH.

THAT I THINK THAT IF YOU HAVE A LIVED EXPERIENCE AND YOU HAVE EXPERTISE IN THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE, YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY A BLACK EXPERT.

AND, SO, IN THE BLACK AGENDA, YOU'LL FIND THAT, YES, SOME FOLKS WHO ARE INCLUDED ARE ACADEMICS, BUT SOME FOLKS ARE NOT.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN POLICY, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN ACTIVISM, YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN ORGANIZING, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE YOUNG, I THINK SOMETIMES PEOPLE LIKE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF AN AGE CAP ON WHAT IS DEFINED AS EXPERTISE, RIGHT?

I KNOW EVEN IN MY OWN KIND OF JOURNEY, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN, LIKE, OH, WE CAN'T CALL HER AN EXPERT.

OKAY, IF YOU WANT, RIGHT?

BUT THE WHOLE POINT AROUND THAT IS THAT EXPERTISE IS NOT LIMITED TO ANY AGE OR LOCATION OR ANY EDUCATION, BUT, RATHER, IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND WHAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH.

OUR THING TODAY IS BUILDING -- OUR THEME TODAY IS BUILDING BLACK WEALTH, WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS THAT OUR AUDIENCE COULD TAKE WITH THEM TODAY?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING IS, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ELECTED OFFICIALS, ENSURE THAT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE PUSHING FOR POLICIES THAT ACTUALLY INCLUDE BLACK PEOPLE.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN USUALLY IS THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS SOMETIMES WILL ONLY GO AT THE VERY SURFACE, THAT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WORK ACROSS THE AISLE, THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMPETING INTERESTS ARE CONSIDERED, BUT THE REALITY IS, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO GET INTO A FUTURE WHERE WE'RE JUST SUSTAINING WHERE WE'RE AT, THE HOPE IS HAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE BETTER OFF THAN WHERE E STARTED.

AND, SO, PUSHING FOR POLICIES, PUSHING FOR CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT POLICIES THAT INCLUDE YOUR COMMUNITY IS KEY.

I THINK THE OTHER THING, TOO, IS THAT REMAINING EDUCATED, ECONOMICALLY ITERATE IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT FINANCIAL LITERACY, LIKE, YOU KNOW, GOT TO START A 401(k), ET CETERA, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THE NUMBERS THAT COME OUT EACH WEEK ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT OR EVEN THE STATS THAT COME OUT BOUT THE ECONOMY EACH YEAR.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, ECONOMICS IS THE LANGUAGE OF POWER.

THAT IS WHAT THE POWER ARE SPEAKING FOR AT THE MOMENT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF WHAT THAT LANGUAGE IS LIKE, YOU'RE ABLE TO BETTER COMMUNICATE WHAT YOU NEED TO THOSE WHO CAN HELP YOU OUT.

>> IN THE FINAL CHAPTER OF YOUR BOOK, IT SPEAKS TO A NEED FOR AN ECONOMIC BILL OF RIGHTS.

FOR AMERICA.

DOES LOOKING AT OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE THROUGH THE LENS OF RIGHTS RATHER THAN SIMPLY OPPORTUNITY OR PULLING YOURSELF UP BY THE BOOT STRAPS GIVE US A LICENSE TO THINK FRESH ABOUT INCLUSIVE GROWTH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND, SO, THAT SSAY WAS WRITTEN BY Dr. WILLIAM SANDY DARITY, SOME OF YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT NAME.

HE IS KIND OF ONE OF THE BIG CHAMPIONS FOR REPARATIONS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND, SO, WHAT HE WAS ULTIMATELY GETTING AT THERE IS THAT EVERYBODY'S ENTITLED TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AND THE WAY THAT WE KIND OF CONVEY THAT SHOULDN'T BE SORT OF ONE-OFF POLICIES THAT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF MITIGATE COMMUNITIES FOR AN ELECTION PERIOD AND THEN WE DON'T EVER TALK ABOUT IT AGAIN.

BUT, RATHER, THINKING ABOUT IT AS AN INHERENT RIGHT, AS A CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU ARE ENTITLED TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND ALL OF THE FRUITS THAT COME ALONGSIDE THAT.

SO INCHES THAT REFRAME -- SO I THINK THAT REFRAMING -- OH, THANK YOU.

YOU ARE, RIGHT?

I THINK THAT REFRAMING IS SO HELPFUL BECAUSE IT ALSO PLACES RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ON THOSE WHO HAVE POWER TO ACTUALLY GET THAT DONE.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER CHAPTERS THAT IS FORWARD LOOKING IS A CHAPTER ON TECHNOLOGY AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

>> YES.

>> IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING, I DID LOOK AT THAT ONE, AND, SO, WE LOOK AT IT, AND IT WAS BUILT WITHOUT A RACIAL EQUITY LENS.

CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT CHAPTER SHARES?

>> YES.

SO, THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THAT CHAPTER IS THAT THAT ENTIRE CHAPTER IS WRITTEN BY BLACK WOMEN.

SO SHOUT-OUT TO BLACK WOMEN IN TECH.

THEY ARE REALLY CARRYING THE MANTEL FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN TECH.

THAT ENTIRE CHAPTER IS TALKING ABOUT THE HARMS OF THE DIGITAL AGE AS IT RELATES TO RACE, GENDER, AND CLASS.

AND, SO, YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN SOME RECENT ARTICLES OR REPORTS THAT HAVE COME OUT IN THE NEWS ATELY ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN PEOPLE GET TARGETED BY FACIAL RECOGNITION OR, YOU NOW, THERE IS CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE HARASSING BLACK FOLKS ONLINE.

THESE ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT Dr. MARSHALL CALLS, THE IDEA THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE A VULNERABLE POPULATION, YOUR VULNERABILITY DOES NOT DISAPPEAR IN THE DIGITAL STAGE.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE POLICIES THAT EXIST HEDGE AGAINST THAT OR PROTECT US AGAINST THAT.

AND CURRENTLY THERE'S ACTUALLY NOT A LOT OF POLICIES ABOUT TECH.

THERE'S A REASON WHY BIG TECH IS KIND OF DOING WHAT IT WANTS TO DO RIGHT NOW, RIGHT?

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF REGULATION OUT THERE.

SO A LOT OF FOLKS, BOTH IN GOVERNMENT, ACADEMIA AND BEYOND, ARE TRYING TO WORK REALLY REALLY HARD TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S MORE EQUITY IN THE TECH SPACE.

>> OKAY.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY COMING FROM YOUR BOOK?

>> OOH!

>> '.

I -- OOH.

I MEAN, YOU'RE ON TOUR.

THERE'S SO MUCH GOODNESS IN THAT BOOK.

I DO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO GO BUY IT.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY COMING FROM THE BOOK?

>> I THINK -- ACTUALLY I THINK THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY IS STARTING TO KIND OF MANIFEST ITSELF.

ONE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS, I'M THE EDITOR OF THE BOOK.

SO PEOPLE LIKE TO CALL ME THE AUTHOR.

I DID NOT WRITE ESSAYS IN THIS BOOK.

I JUST COMPILED THEM OGETHER.

AND, SO, WITH THAT COMES SORT OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY OF REPRESENTING THIS GROUP OF SCHOLARS WELL HEN I'M GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS.

BUT ALSO TO CELEBRATE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO PUT THEMSELVES FURTHER OUT THERE AND, SO, I CAN SAY THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THE SCHOLARS IN THE BOOK, SINCE THE BOOK'S PUBLICATION, HAVE HAD A LOT OF INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES.

Dr. LAUREN MIMS RECENTLY SECURED A $1.3 MILLION GRANT TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE BLACK GIRLS IN THE CLASSROOM.

[ Applause ] THANK YOU.

Dr. GROOMS RECENTLY TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF CONGRESS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.

I MEAN, WE'RE SEEING LIKE TANGIBLE EFFECTS OF THIS BOOK.

AND I THINK THAT IS ULTIMATELY THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WANT TO SEE COME OUT OF IT.

BUT I WOULD SAY THE OTHER ASPECT OF IT, TOO, SEEING THE NEXT GENERATION INCORPORATE THIS BOOK, IN ITS OWN THINKING, RIGHT?

SEEING THAT THIS BOOK IS BEING TAUGHT AT BENNETT COLLEGE, A HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY, IT'S ACTUALLY THE FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN, IS AMAZING BECAUSE NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT THE NEXT GENERATION IS ALSO STARTING TO THINK ABOUT THESE IDEAS CRITICALLY AND MAKE SORT OF DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN.

[ Applause ] >> YEAH.

AND AS YOU SHARED THAT, I WAS JUST REMINDED OR TRIGGERED TO THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AMPLIFYING THE VOICES, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> SO IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE SOMEONE AT THE TABLE, BUT IT'S SOMETHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, IN CORPORATE WE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SPONSORSHIP.

BUT AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF THOSE THAT HAVE THE EXPERTISE AND THE EXPERIENCE IS SO CRITICAL.

AND YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WOULD LEAD.

SO THANK YOU FOR MODELING THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR DEMONSTRATING THAT AND FOR INSPIRING US TO THAT.

SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

>> YES.

>> AND I WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION ON THE RADIO, AND I'M NOW GOING TO EXTEND THAT QUESTION TO YOU, WHICH WAS, IF Dr. KING WAS HERE TODAY, AND YOU HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK HIM FOR ADVICE, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SO, AS WAS MENTIONED, I'M 26.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE KIND OF DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE ACTIVISM AND ADVOCACY SPACE GO THROUGH, RIGHT?

THERE ARE GENERATIONAL GAPS THAT SOMETIMES MAKE IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE SAYING.

AND THERE'S ALSO THINGS THAT WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM, RIGHT?

I THINK THE BIGGEST ADVICE I WOULD ASK Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. IS, HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO ALLOW YOUR YOUTH TO KIND OF INVIGORATE YOUR INTEREST AND PASSION FOR ADVOCACY?

AND HOW DID YOU TRANSLATE THAT ADVOCACY INTO SUSTAINED ACTION?

RIGHT?

WE'RE STILL CELEBRATING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. TODAY, BUT HE PASSED IN THE 1960s, RIGHT?

AND, SO, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT, ONE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THIS SORT OF GENERATIONAL SHIFT YOU'RE SEEING, I THINK SOMEBODY CALLED IT KIND OF LIKE A THIRD RECONSTRUCTION THAT YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE.

AND THAT IT'S BEING, AGAIN, AT THE HELM OF YOUNG PEOPLE SORT OF LEADING THE EFFORT.

AND, SO, I WOULD SAY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT'S KIND OF THE BIGGEST THING I WANT TO KNOW.

LIKE, HOW DID HE NAVIGATE THIS?

AND HOW WAS HE ABLE TO BUILD SOMETHING THAT OUTLASTED HIM?

THAT'S THE ADVICE THAT I WOULD LOVE.

YEAH.

>> YEAH.

[ Applause ] SO THEY GAVE US, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A TON OF TIME.

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW.

BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO ASK.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE TOUCHED ON, AND YOU TOUCHED ON IN YOUR SPEECH AND WE'VE HEARD IT IN OTHERS, YOU KNOW, WE HAD GEORGE FLOYD HERE, WE'VE HAD PANDEMIC, WE'VE HAD JAMAR CLARK, PHILANDO, AND AMIR AND DAUNTE, WE'VE HAD A LOT.

>> UP.

>> AND IT IS GRIM AND IT IS TOUGH.

AND THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO.

AND IF WE DON'T KNOW IT, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SAY THEIR NAMES.

RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL, RIGHT, IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF US THAT ARE LOOKING AT DISPARITIES, THERE IS HOPE, THERE ARE NORTH STARS, HERE ARE BEAUTIFUL FOLKS THAT ARE COMING FORWARD IN LEADERSHIP, IN NEW AND FANTASTIC WAYS.

AND, SO, AS WE CLOSE OUT, WOULD YOU SHARE WITH US WHAT IS BRINGING YOU HOPE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS -- THIS IS APPRECIATED.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CAN WE ALSO JUST GIVE HER -- CHANDA A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR MODERATING THIS EVENT, RIGHT?

YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I THINK A COUPLE THINGS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO GO OVER TIME SO APOLOGIES.

I THINK THE FIRST THING IS JUST PAYING FLOWERS TO THOSE WHO HAVE PAVED HE WAY.

KNOWING THAT IT CAN BE DONE EVEN UNDER THE MOST EXCRUCIATING AND TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES.

LIKE IT CAN BE DONE.

AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER THING FOR ME AS WELL IS LOOKING, YOU KNOW, TOWARDS THE FUTURE AND LOOKING BEHIND ME AND SEEING WHO'S COMING UP BEHIND ME.

I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE ASK ME, SORT OF, WHAT KEEPS ME GOING, LIKE IT'S A LOT OF DOOM AND GLOOM.

AND I THINK IT'S KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, GENERATION Z AND THE GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW ARE REALLY REALLY ABOUT THE WORK, AND ARE REALLY PUTTING THEMSELVES OUT THERE AND TRYING TO BE EDUCATED ABOUT THE ISSUES SO THAT THEY CAN BE BETTER HUMAN BEINGS.

AND, SO, I KNOW AT THE BEAR MINIMUM THAT, YOU KNOW, MY CHILDREN AT SOME POINT ARE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE WHEN IT COMES TO RACISM AND DISPARITIES THAT WE SEE, BUT MY AIM AND MY GOAL AT THIS TIME IS TO ENSURE THAT I FIND WAYS IN WHICH THAT WE CAN SORT OF ELIMINATE AS MUCH INEQUALITY AS WE CAN SO THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE WHO ARE COMING UP DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH SORT OF THE QUESTION OF, DOES YOUR EXISTENCE MATTER, ARE YOU VALID AS A PERSON, RIGHT, AND, RATHER, CAN FOCUS ON THINGS THAT BRING INTEREST TO THEM, THAT, YOU KNOW, EVEN ADD MORE TO THE WORLD, RIGHT?

AND WHAT BRINGS ME HOPE IS, OBVIOUSLY MY WONDERFUL FAMILY AND MY SUPPORT SYSTEM, WHO ARE HERE TODAY, SOMEWHERE IN THE CROWD.

AND I WOULD ALSO SAY THE NEXT GENERATION AND THOSE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE ME AND PAVED THE WAY.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> ANNA GIFTY OPOKU-AGYEMAN.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

THANK YOU.

>> THE BOOK, BLACK AGENDA.

WE HAVE ONE MORE THING AND THEN WE'LL BE CLOSING OUT THE DAY.

SO THANK YOU, MY SISTER.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YUP.

WE'LL GO THIS WAY.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> I KNOW WE'VE GOT ONE MORE PERFORMANCE.

IT'S BEEN A GREAT MORNING, A GREAT AFTERNOON.

AND I CANNOT GET OVER THE EXPERTISE AND THE BRILLIANCE THAT HAS BEEN ON THIS STAGE.

AND, SO, ANNA, AGAIN, I APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.

WE DID NOT KNOW, I DID NOT KNOW HER TIES TO MINNESOTA WHEN WE STARTED ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER.

AND, SO, IT WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO LEARN THAT.

SO, OUR FINAL PERFORMANCE TODAY, WE ARE WELCOMING ALPHA PHI ALPHA TO THE STAGE.

[ Applause ] >> GOOD DAY.

THE WORLD KNOWS HIM AS Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

BUT TO THE 200,000 MEN BELONGING TO 706 CHAPTERS AROUND THE WORLD OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED, WE KNOW HIM AS BROTHER Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. MY NAME IS RESHAWN KING, PRESIDENT OF GAMMA XI LAMBDA CHAPTER HERE IN MINNESOTA AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A FEW THINGS WITH YOU TODAY.

BROTHER Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

JOINED THE SIGMA CHAPTER OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY NCORPORATED JUNE 22nd, 1952.

AT THE AGE OF 23 YEARS OLD.

IN THE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AREA, AND IT IS THE 17th CHAPTER OF FOUNDING OUT OF THE 706 CHAPTERS OF ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY INCORPORATED.

ABOUT ONE EAR LATER, HE MARRIED A QUEEN, WHO HAPPENED TO BE THE FIRST WOMAN, NOT WOMAN OF COLOR, BUT WOMAN, TO PROVIDE THE CLASS DAY ADDRESS AT HARVARD IN 1968.

HER NAME WAS CORETTA SCOTT KING.

TODAY THE MEN OF GAMMA XI LAMBDA HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE APRIL 12th, 1946, 76 YEARS YOUNG, ALONG WITH OUR BROTHERS FROM MU CHAPTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE APRIL 12th, 1912, 111 YEARS.

PROVIDING SERVICE AND ADVOCACY IN A NUMBER OF WAYS, REPRESENTING OUR VALUES AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH BROTHER Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

THESE PROGRAMMING EFFORTS RANGE FROM A VOTELESS PEOPLE IS A HOPELESS PEOPLE, WHICH HAS BEEN AROUND NATIONALLY SINCE THE 1930s, PROVIDING VOTER EDUCATION, TO OUR GO TO HIGH SCHOOL GO TO COLLEGE PROGRAM, WHICH HOUSES OUR A.C.T.

PREP AND COLLEGE CAREER CURRICULUM.

WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING THIS PROGRAM TO THE TWIN CITIES YOUTH AT NO CHARGE FOR OVER 32 YEARS.

[ Applause ] PLEASE LISTEN CLOSELY TO THE WORDS OF A POEM THAT IS NEAR AND DEAR TO THE MEN OF ALPHA.

- THE POEM YOU WILL HEAR IS NAMED ""BY RUNYARD KIPLING, THEN YOU WILL SEE AND HEAR THE STEPS OF THE WOLF RIDERS TAUGHT BY BROTHER SHAWN BURNES.

LISTEN CLOSELY.

"IF."

"IF" BY RUNYARD KIPLING.

IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU ARE LOSING THEIRS AND BLAMING IT ON YOU.

IF YOU CAN TRUST YOURSELF WHEN ALL MEN DOUBT YOU BUT MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR DOUBTING TOO; IF YOU CAN WAIT AND NOT BE TIRED BY WAITING OR BEING LIED ABOUT, DON'’T DEAL IN LIES OR BEING HATED, DON'’T GIVE WAY TO HATING AND YET DON'’T LOOK TOO GOOD, NOR TALK TOO WISE: IF YOU CAN DREAM-—AND NOT MAKE DREAMS YOUR MASTER; IF YOU CAN THINK-—AND NOT MAKE THOUGHTS YOUR AIM; IF YOU CAN MEET WITH TRIUMPH AND DISASTER AND TREAT THOSE TWO IMPOSTORS JUST THE SAME; IF YOU CAN BEAR TO HEAR THE TRUTH YOU'’VE SPOKEN TWISTED BY KNAVES TO MAKE A TRAP FOR FOOLS OR WATCH THE THINGS YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO, BROKEN AND STOOP AND BUILD '’EM UP WITH WORN-OUT TOOLS: IF YOU CAN MAKE ONE HEAP OF ALL YOUR WINNINGS AND RISK IT ON ONE TURN OF PITCH-AND-TOSS AND LOSE, AND START AGAIN AT YOUR BEGINNINGS AND NEVER BREATHE A WORD ABOUT YOUR LOSS; IF YOU CAN FORCE YOUR HEART AND NERVE AND SINEW TO SERVE YOUR TURN LONG AFTER THEY ARE GONE.

AND SO HOLD ON WHEN THERE IS NOTHING IN YOU EXCEPT THE WILL WHICH SAYS TO THEM: '‘HOLD ON!

'’ IF YOU CAN TALK WITH CROWDS AND KEEP YOUR VIRTUE.

OR WALK WITH KINGS-—NOR LOSE THE COMMON TOUCH IF NEITHER FOES NOR LOVING FRIENDS CAN HURT YOU IF ALL MEN COUNT WITH YOU, BUT NONE TOO MUCH; IF YOU CAN FILL THE UNFORGIVING MINUTE WITH SIXTY SECONDS'’ WORTH OF DISTANCE RUN.

YOURS IS THE EARTH AND EVERYTHING THAT'’S IN IT.

AND-—WHICH IS MORE-—YOU'’LL BE A MAN, MY SON!

"IF" BY RUNYARD KIPLING.

[ Applause ] [ Applause ] >> WELL, ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR WALZ, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FLANAGAN, THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL ON WANT MARTIN LUTHER KING HOLIDAY, MINNESOTA STATE AGENCIES AND OUR SPONSORS, U.S. BANK AND 3M, AND TODAY'S AMAZING SPEAKERS AND PERFORMERS, WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING TOGETHER ON THIS DAY.

AND ATTENDING AND TUNING N TO THIS VERY SPECIAL MOMENT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE Dr. KING AND BRING THAT LEGACY TO OUR WORK HERE IN MINNESOTA.

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

MOST OF ALL, WE THANK REVEREND Dr. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR., WHOSE LIFE AND WORK CONTINUES AS A GUIDE AND INSPIRATION TO US ALL.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Dr. KING.

[ Applause ] YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T MAKE MUCH SENSE THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW AGAINST ANYONE WHO TAKES OFFENSE AT A DAY IN YOUR CELEBRATION 'CAUSE WE ALL KNOW IN OUR MINDS THAT THERE OUGHT TO BE A TIME THAT WE CAN SET ASIDE TO SHOW JUST HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU AND I'M SURE YOU WOULD AGREE WHAT COULD FIT MORE PERFECTLY THAN TO HAVE A WORLD PARTY ON THE DAY YOU CAME TO BE HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY