IBS Interview Podcast: Glenn Greenidge

December 3, 2023
Black Summit Interviews
Season 2, Episode #3 - Glenn Greenidge

In this podcast episode, Grace Lawrence interview her co-host GLENN GREENIDGE:

Glenn has been involved in community empowerment, personal development, and entrepreneurship since the 1980s. Glenn started his personal development journey in 1981, attending and volunteering in leadership positions at what is now Landmark Worldwide. In the '80s, Glenn was on staff at the East Coast 6-Day Advance Course training facility for 2 years. To do this, he took a break from his job at Xerox Corporation and his successful 25 + years Data Processing career.

In 1990, Glenn and Byron Johns co-founded People Of African Descent Empowerment Group (PADEG), with an initial mission of promoting leadership training opportunities for people of African descent in the New York Tristate community within the structure of courses and volunteer training provided by Landmark. The second phase of PADEG was the establishment of an investment partnership that invested in stocks and mutual funds from 1997 – 2011.

In 2012, Glenn collaborated with Byron Johns and Orin Saunders to develop a coaching program called The 90 Day Enhancement Program, out of their commitment to the development of entrepreneurs, and small & medium sized businesses in the African American community.

Glenn Greenidge is currently actively working on Economic & Community Development utilizing his training and development skills in Commercial Real Estate at Sutphin Blvd Business Improvement District in Jamaica, NY. In addition, he is chairman of Queens Community Board 12 Economic Development Committee. Glenn is also is the Board Chair and Chairman of the Real Estate Committee for Joseph P Addabbo Family Health Center, which is constructing a $32 million expansion using New Market Tax Credits. 

Glenn has been a member of the International Black Summit since its inception in 1991. Glenn has been a Summit facilitator for over 30 years, and has held the accountability for the International Black Youth Summit with Joyce Jones for over 20 years. In 2015, Glenn also developed a youth leadership training programing for the African Center for Community Empowerment, a New York-based nonprofit organization committed to helping solve the poverty-related problems of inner-city youth and their families.

Glenn has a Bachelor of Science for the Southern New Hampshire University in Management Advisory Services (a dual major in Accounting & Computer Science). 

For more information about the International Black Summit, please go to:

Website – blacksummit.org
Twitter – @blacksummit
Facebook – facebook.com/blacksummit/
IBS News Sign-Up – bit.ly/IBS-signup
IBS Annual Summit Event Registration – blacksummit.org/ase

The views and opinions expressed by the person interviewed are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the International Black Summit.

Transcript

[THIS TRANSCRIPT HAS NOT BEEN EDITED NOR PROOFREAD.]

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Hello and welcome everyone to the International Black Summit Interview Podcast. My name is Grace Lawrence and you are with us for our monthly interview podcast session.

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For those of you who are not familiar with the International Black Summit, we're an organization that was created in 1,991 and our purpose is to provide an opportunity for participants our participants to bring into being their vision for the black community.

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The world. So welcome this interview podcast, what in what we do is we interview current and past facilitators and participants of the International Black Summit and tonight we will be I will be interviewing Glenn Greenidge, one of the co-hosts, my co-host on this on this program.

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So I am going to ask Glenn to join me here in the virtual studio. And, and, Also, then I'll tell you a little bit about him once he's joined me on screen.

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Welcome, Glen. Welcome.

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Thank you, Decky Grace. But to be here.

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Good to have you with us. Good to have you. You know, it's such an interesting thing.

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Perfect.

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It's usually the 2 of us interviewing a third person. Or one of us interviewing a third person, but tonight I really just so excited for the opportunity to share more about you for our listeners and for me to learn a little bit more about you.

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You know, we've been working together. The podcasts and on the Sunday Summit shares sessions that we have available.

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They're free every Sunday evening. And I know there are things about you that I didn't know just by reading your biography.

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Okay.

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So let me share a little bit about that. So let me read your biography for everyone who's listening just to set the stage before we get into before we get into this.

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So let me do that. Okay, so as I already mentioned, Glenn is a co-host of the podcast, the International Black Summit Interview podcast, and he's an active member of the summit facilitator body.

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So let me read here. Glenn has been involved in community empowerment, personal development, and entrepreneurship since the 1980.

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Glen started his personal development in 1,981 attending and volunteering in leadership positions at what is now landmark worldwide.

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In the 19 eighties, Glen was on staff at landmark worldwide at the East Coast 6 Day Advanced Course Training Facility for 2 years.

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To do this, he took a break from his job at Xerox Corporation and his successful 20 five-year plus data processing career.

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Then in 1990, Glenn and Byron James also someone familiar with the international Black Summit, the 2 of them co-founded an organization called the people of African descent empowerment group.

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And its initial

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By Byron Johns

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Is that what did I say?

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Oh, sorry, Byron John, sorry about that Byron. Forgive me, Byron.

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James, because Yeah, you would never forgive me

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Yeah. Forgive me, Byron. So Byron and Glenn, they co-founded Padegg, the people of African Descent Empowerment Group in 1,990 and that group's initial mission was to promote leadership training and opportunities for people of African descent in the New York Tri-state area.

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And they offered the courses, structure of courses and volunteer training. Oh, using the structure of courses and volunteer training provided by landmark at the time.

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And then Pedeg evolved into a second phase and in its second phase they established an investment partnership that invested in stocks and mutual funds from 1997 to 2011.

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Then in 2,012, Glenn and Byron collaborated with another facilitator from the International Black Summit, Or in Saunders.

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To develop a coaching program called the Ninety-day Enhancement Program. This was developed out of their commitment to developing entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized businesses in the African-american community.

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Clint Glenn currently actively works on economic and community development. Using his training and development skills in commercial real estate.

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At the Sutton Boulevard Business Improvement District in Jamaica, New York.

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Addition he's chairman of Queens Community Board 12 Economic Development Committee. Is also the board chair and chairman of the Real Estate Committee for Joseph P.

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Adabo Family Health Center. Which is constructing a 32 million dollars expansion using new market tax credits.

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Glenn has been a member of the International Black Summit since its inception in 1,991 he was there at the very very start he's been a summit facilitator for over 30 years and has held the accountability for the International Black Youth Summit with Joyce Jones for over 20 years.

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In 2,015, Glenn also developed a youth training leadership training program for the African Center for Community Empowerment, which is a New York-based non-profit organization committed to helping solve the poverty- problems of inner city youth and their families.

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Glenn has a bachelor of science for, for, from the southern New Hampshire University and management advisory services with a dual major in accounting and computer science.

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Yeah.

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We know a whole lot more about you now, Clean. All the way back to your bachelor degrees.

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So. So welcome welcome. You know, this is such a great opportunity to really not just find out more about you as a host of the podcast.

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But to find out more about you as a host who uses the tools and distinctions of the International Black Summit in your life, in your community work, in your career, in your family, in all of your endeavors.

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And have been doing that. For over 30 years. So for me, I'm really hoping that this.

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That this interview, this session this evening really gives an insight. For anyone who's listening or anyone who's watching us on the YouTube channel.

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Into the impact. That the tools and distinctions of the International Black Summit can have. On really opening up what's available for us to create in our lives and in our communities.

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Thank you.

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Because clearly you've created so much. So, you're welcome. You're welcome.

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So let me start. Let me start with where we typically start, which is your first exposure to the International Black Summit, like the first time you heard about it the first time you met somebody talking about it.

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You were there way back in the beginning. So what was that first conversation or first phone call or first event for you.

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Well, a gentleman by the name of J. young. Contacted me and JK had worked with him at the sixth day so I was on staff at the sixth day advance course and he brought a team up from Boston.

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He was in Boston at the time. And so I had met him, we had talked and we had talked.

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About how we could use this work to empower. You know power our community. And you know and and so one of the conversations That was one of the conversations that we had then.

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And then a couple years later, I heard from him that they were formulating this conversation. And didn't know what it was going to be named or who was going to be part of it.

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But he said that we've got some graduates. From the S training and and the forum which is part of landmark education.

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We've got some black graduates that are coming together. And the And he says, I'm going to send you the information so you can disseminate it here in New York.

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And let the people in New York know about it. And, In fact, we had about 8 people.

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I'm from the New York area part of this group called People of African Descent Empowerment Group that we had formulated because we had We were basically doing the same thing, but we were only doing it locally, so we're doing it in the tri-state area.

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And we were basically enrolling people into whatever leadership training. That was available at landmark education at that point in time.

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So we had course course supervisors. We had a seminar. People training to be seminar leaders and so on and so forth.

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And we were just active. In the New York Area Center. And so getting this letter and I'm going to miscode it, but It's basically.

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Says that. This is like the founding. The forefathers.

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Formulating the declaration in the Constitution of the United States. And they basically said, there's nothing but death in your body, so stop you from being at this event.

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So of course, you know, you have this kind of just letter that comes. And of course I shared it with people that were like, what?

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What? These guys are serious. What, you know, what, what are they up to? What, what, what is it about?

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And the truth is that We weren't sure what it was about. But we knew that it was about empowering people from our community.

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And we were getting together to have a bigger conversation. So that conversation that I had with JK a few years earlier.

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Now was now going to be a national conversation and people from all over. The country and outside of the country that had done that were part of landmark were going to be at this event so Needless to say, we're very excited.

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We were, didn't know what to expect. Really didn't know what we were walking into.

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What the format was gonna be, but where we were clear and let me speak for myself, I was clear.

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That I needed to be there. I'm given the conversation that we had gotten started at the people of African descent empowerment group here in New York.

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And that was sort of a continuation or expansion of that conversation for me.

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So, so a couple of questions. First, JK, J. Kenneth Young, what was his role at Landmark at the time?

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He was a I believe he was a seminar, director, seminal leader. So he was leading seminars.

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He was also, he was on staff. At the time that he sent the letter, he was on staff in Chicago.

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So he'd moved from, from from New England. To to Chicago and now was operating out of Chicago and was doing some organizing with the boys and girls club I believe and some other organizations there in Chicago.

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So, so he is now. Squarely in the conversation and from what I understand that was the place that.

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Had the most activity around. The preliminary conversation leading up to October, the seventh, 1991, which was the actually the first event.

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That was formulated that got had everybody. On

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So let me ask you.

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So the other thing I might add, yeah, the other thing I might add is that that there were some preliminary conversations on the phone.

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And back and back at that time you couldn't do conference calls conference calls weren't So we had the daisy chain.

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And after 4 or 5 people you'd have to keep repeating it to the next 5 to the next 5 to the next 5 because we'll sometimes we had like 20 or 30 people on the call.

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So, so it wasn't very efficient so it was clear that we had to get together and meet and and October, the seventh was the first.

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The date that we have put together for this meeting.

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Yeah, daisy chain for anybody from a younger generation is like 3 way calling and that you three-way call and the other person three-way calls and the next person threeway calls.

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Creating a conference call by people three-way calling each and that's the daisy chain.

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All the technology is pretty old.

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Is old technology. Well, we have so much more available to us now. So my question, is if you were to Go back to the man you were in 1,000 991,991 when these conversations were happening.

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So you were part of the Padegg group. And that tri-state area group was looking at using transformational tools in the African-american community.

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This conversation comes along to say let's do something similar but on a national scale. Inside the African American community.

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If you were to go back to the man you were then. And look at the man you are now.

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And the tools you have now. And what you have experienced. Through the International Black Summit over the last 3 decades.

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Hmm.

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What would you? What would what would that man? Say about where you are and where things are today.

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Well, you know, the first thing that I've got to say is that I didn't have the wherewithal that I have now.

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We started out I was just beginning to lead a conversations from the front of the room. We had our own meetings that we were set up at Pedeg.

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And so I was just getting comfortable with that whole leading. And and Trying to steer people through a conversation what I learned since then is to manage my mind and to be with what's in front of me rather than trying to force fit.

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A conversation down a particular path. So there were there was a lot of things that I've learned since then around facilitation.

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Around being with people. Around. Having people left empowered. Now, I'm, I'm still not perfect about it.

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I, I think I'm a little bit better at it, but I still leave. From time to time I can leave people in the upset and that's not my commitment.

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So I think I've got I'm more refined. I'm certainly more skilled in the technology of the International Black Summit because at that point in time there was no technology for the International Black Summer.

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We were just all based in Landmark. Now I had gotten some great training at Landmark. And the thing that I'm also left with is there's something special about having.

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Technology developed by people of black African descent. With a commitment to have that be communicated and expressed in our community.

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And so I think that that if I were to look, compare myself to then to now those are some of the things obviously that have changed in terms of my relationship to transformation and of course you know I was a little older, a little wiser, wiser from the mistakes that I've made.

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And, and to, you know, one of the things that I've gotta say at this point in time for me, one of the things, I've got to say at this point in time for me, one of the things, you know, in the International Black Sum, we talk about a inquiry or a discussion point that we have from you to year.

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And when I look at over these years. When I look back at that discussion point, we had several years of be with what is.

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And so that B with what is conversation was one of the One of the. Pivotal points.

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In my relationship to myself. In terms of allowing myself to fully own and be responsible. For the life that I have.

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And certainly if it's not looking the way I'd like it. Then do something about it rather than just complain.

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And and And squawk about it. Yeah, go ahead. You got a question there. Go ahead.

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Well, I just I would think first of all I wanted to say that I think you're selling yourself a little short in terms of leaving people in power, I wanted to say that I think you're selling yourself a little short in terms of leaving people empowered.

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Do you regularly leave me empowered? Do you regularly leave me empowered? Do you regularly leave me empowered?

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Do you regularly leave me empowered? Do you regularly leave me empowered? Do you regularly leave me empowered?

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Do you know, you regularly leave me empowered? You know, we're teammates in what we do on this podcast and also in the other sessions that and in our team meetings I feel like you make it a point to ensure that our sessions and our meetings always end in a space of empowerment.

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And so I get that that is has. Probably become so much a part of who you are and who you be in the world.

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That when it's out even this little amount it's going to be a big thing and obvious to you even when it might be completely noticeable to other people.

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But because it's an area of mastery for you. That being even out of alignment slightly in that area is going to be, you know, noticeable to you in ways that is probably not noticeable to the people around you.

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So, but thank you for being that. Yeah.

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Yeah.

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Yeah, you're welcome. You're welcome. I've been trained well. By the people around me.

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Yeah, I mean it's one of the things for sure in the summit. And looking at your participation in Padeg, which was about empowerment in the African-american community.

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And you. Fulfilling that role there and in many different roles that you feel in in in the community including in the summit.

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So let me ask you, you know, we talk about these tools in the summit and our summit tools include things like being the annual inquiries that you just referred to the discussion points or the questions we call it sometimes call it an annual question or annual inquiry.

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So each annual summit event. There is an inquiry, a question that we. Ask ourselves and explore and investigate over the subsequent year until the next annual summit event.

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And then we look to see inside the facilitators generate what the next listen for what the next annual question is.

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And so looking at these tools, the questions, the distinctions, the declaration, and the vision. The purpose be, creep, you know, providing.

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An opportunity for participants.

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To bring into being that But.

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To bring into being their vision for the black community in the world. What's your vision?

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Hmm.

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Well, my vision is really health, wealth, and abundance available for all. And so when I look at that for me, it's about creating a level playing field for everybody.

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Especially for people from our community who feel disenfranchised or left out or not it's certainly not included.

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And I think that part of that conversation really is an internal conversation. It starts internally and, I guess if I look back.

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You know, we talked about the inquiry, but also the distinctions which are part of the tools that we use.

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Inside of the International Black Summit. The first one that I had to get a hold of.

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Is that there's no right way to be. And so the tools and the distinctions, these are words that we use.

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But we use them in a particular way. So if you look them up in the dictionary, it may not be.

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The same way that we particularly use them inside of the International Black Summit, but the the distinction no right way to be was a very confrontational one for me because you know after these 25 years being a systems analyst being in data processing data processing is very structured.

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Okay.

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It's, it's there, you know, there are there is a right way to be inside of that the context of that conversation and that training.

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And when I've been in data processing. Since high school. So I started programming in high school.

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Yeah.

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We ended up having a terminal. And so I, we were hooked up and I was riding cobalt, Fortran, and RPG, which aren't used this day and age anymore but but back then those were the latest and greatest programming languages.

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And so no right way to be had me to stop. And not try and figure it out. And not be be having a strategy or a agenda of how to figure it out.

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No right way to be, have me stop in my tracks. And allow life. To contribute to me.

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And what I got to see in allowing myself for life to contribute to me to see that There were many other ways of getting to the finish line or getting that result.

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Most of which I hadn't have a clue about. So. No right way to be had me really open up to results and situations that I would have never embarked on on my own.

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And so it allowed me to expand. My looking, my listening. And my ability to be with. Be with what is.

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You know what's interesting so you know you've mentioned 2 distinctions already so far 2 distinctions that we use in the International Black Summit.

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Be with be with what is being one of the distinctions that we use to really uncover and and it's a transformative tool and also No right way to be another distinction from the International Black Summit.

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And my question is, When you look at those distinctions and maybe even others. And you look at your vision of health.

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Yes.

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Wealth and abundance of available for all, including yourself. Because you're in all. How have you used those distinctions or other summit tools to generate that for yourself?

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Like, do you have any specific examples of how you've generated health, wealth, and abundance?

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For yourself or around you. Using the tools and distinctions of the summit.

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Well, you know, it's interesting because, Over the years, I had about, I was working as a consultant.

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After I left the sixth day went back into the data processing field. Left the company and actually started my consulting firm and I had a consulting firm from probably about 1995.

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To about 2,001 where 9 11 hit and after that there was you know those kind of those a drought There was a, there was a huge consulting all the consultants got cut off and I went for about almost 10 years.

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Not really working. And so in the in that period of time, of course, You know, the first thing is, you know, your self worth.

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Well, you're not working, you know, what you're going to do, how you're going to survive.

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And so the tools of the summit had me really keep. Keep myself grounded. And what I discovered.

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Is that even though at oh and here's another thing that was part of my consciousness at that point in time.

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You know, I was making, I was making some nice dollars. So for me, if I didn't have $200 in my pocket.

00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:48.000
I was, you know, something was wrong. You know, and so of course I didn't have $200 in my pocket in that period of time.

00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:59.000
And so I really had me look at what was around me. And I began to look at the wealth and the abundance.

00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:11.000
That was in my community. And so I got to discover. All of these things that were around me, you know, services in the library, people I knew.

00:27:11.000 --> 00:27:18.000
You know all these different resources that I had access to. That had I not stopped having a job per se that I would have never discovered.

00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:34.000
So. So in that I really got to get a sense of myself. Certainly got a sense of community.

00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:45.000
And realize that wait a minute. If they're all these resources available. Then why are people not connecting?

00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:53.000
And which was the same reason why I wasn't connected. So it really had me begin to look at what's this.

00:27:53.000 --> 00:28:09.000
Conversation called economic development. Well, economic development is about Supporting businesses. And people who were in commerce or who are buying, selling, doing something inside of the community.

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:21.000
And that was the initiative. That helped us start the coaching program, the ninety-day enhancement program and being the leader in my life.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:29.000
Those are the 2 coaching programs that Byron and Orin, the 3 of us would would talk.

00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:43.000
On a Sunday afternoon. Probably for 2 or 3 h every Sunday we talk about the different issues that black entrepreneurs had, you know, what were they up against, so and so forth.

00:28:43.000 --> 00:29:00.000
And so that that those conversations had me really venture into real estate. And economic development. So that, so I, so now I now use those, that track.

00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:19.000
To begin to, you know, fulfill on my vision. And, you know, so that the wealth and abundance and so you also have to remember too that I just come out of Pedeg We were about 15 people.

00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:27.000
15 members and we had about $250,000. In equities that we managed that we had.

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:41.000
Built up in that time period and we're managing and actually were beating the market. So if the market went down 10, we probably only went down maybe 6 or 7.

00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:48.000
If that much. And so, you know, if the market went up, we went up as well.

00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:59.000
But we had relatively conservative. Investments and we were just thinking about getting into real estate so we we were strictly stocks.

00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:14.000
We didn't do any bonds, we just but different kinds of stocks and so we we did very very well and we used the Use the NAC credit union, what's the?

00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:18.000
The group where you.

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:30.000
Where you as a community have a little investment club. So we went, we investigated an investment club association and took some training and then trained all our people.

00:30:30.000 --> 00:30:46.000
In fact, The late, Bill Patterson and I were responsible for training. Of our group because of course.

00:30:46.000 --> 00:30:47.000
Hmm.

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.000
When you get into stocks I thought I knew something about stocks and really discovered that I those are so much that I didn't know even though I had this accounting background.

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:54.000
There was so much more to the stocks. And investigating them and so on and so forth.

00:30:54.000 --> 00:31:03.000
So we did the training so that was kind of like the wealth. Piece of the conversation then I had the Abundance Peace.

00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:12.000
And, and quite frankly, I've been probably dealing with the health piece, these last few. Me or maybe 10 years or so.

00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:19.000
Being a little bit more focused around health. And eating well and exercising and so on and so forth.

00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:30.000
So all of those areas have been supported by the work that I've been doing inside of the International Black Summit and landmark.

00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:37.000
And and inside of economic development. So all of those things are really tied together.

00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:44.000
I really hear, you know, we mentioned a couple of times now, the bee with what is distinction.

00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:53.000
And I really hear that very strongly in what you just shared. You know, after having your consulting business, then going through the dry period.

00:31:53.000 --> 00:32:06.000
Being with what is during the dry period, which is something that that for many of us as human beings is a challenge, we just, we just will do anything.

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:13.000
To avoid being with what was true for us in that moment. And we'll find all kinds of distractions.

00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:24.000
We'll run ourselves ragged in ways that are actually not taking us towards our vision. And where, you know, we're just spinning our wheels.

00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:44.000
Rather than stopping and taking a moment and just allowing ourselves to be with what is. And inside of that, you sharing that you were able to see all of the abundance around you, you know, living in North America, I'm in Canada, you're in the United States, we're in capitalist societies.

00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:59.000
And so, so the conversation around, you know, wealth and abundance is often just about money.

00:32:59.000 --> 00:33:00.000
Yeah.

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:06.000
But you had the opportunity in that moment to be present to abundance at the level of community. Present to all kinds of other types of a abundance that are not financial.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:15.000
And that I think we often disregard. In this society. We may not be disregarding it so much in the future, in my opinion.

00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:24.000
I think where we may be moving into a future where people are. We are reminded. About the value of other types of abundance, I think we may be.

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:37.000
We may be heading to type that type of a future but i'm really present to the value that that being able to be with what is provided you in that moment not just your ability to see the abundance around you.

00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:47.000
But your abundance to then listen for what was next. As opposed to running after a distraction. Being able to listen.

00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:48.000
Be quiet and listen for what's next and then move in that direction. I just find that really powerful.

00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:58.000
Again, for me, it's to this a demonstration of the power of these distinctions.

00:33:58.000 --> 00:34:07.000
Yes, you know, you know the the thing and you said it just now It's being able to listen.

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:20.000
And and and Notice what's available again, noticing is another one of the distinctions. Is to just to be able to kind of check it out for yourself.

00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:22.000
You know, that self-examination is this working? Is this not working? You know, how did I leave that person?

00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:36.000
Are they now upset? Are they, you know, empowered? Are they, you know, satisfied with, you know, with their interaction?

00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:44.000
And you know all of those things you know, kind of come at you and you know, over the years, you get better and better at.

00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:56.000
Working with them. The the other tools that I that I love kind of closing with with the young people, the work I do with the youth.

00:34:56.000 --> 00:35:09.000
Accountability, responsibility, and ownership. And I was in a podcast yesterday around mental health.

00:35:09.000 --> 00:35:20.000
And one of the things that was very evident were the people who were successful in resolving their issues. Were being accountable and responsible.

00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:35.000
And owning their diagnosis. And so I think that if. Anything in life if you're accountable responsible and you own the result that you have you're now in a powerful place.

00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:58.000
Where you can now change. Whatever there is to change as a possibility. And and and transformation for me is the ability to have a conversation but know that that conversation is not cemented.

00:35:58.000 --> 00:35:59.000
Hmm.

00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:02.000
And that I can change that conversation. In a moment and you know, especially if it's not empowering me.

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:09.000
So, you know, I have the opportunity to change the what I'm listening to in my head.

00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:22.000
And be able to now. Position it in a way in a place that works for me. And so I think that the training and the distinctions.

00:36:22.000 --> 00:36:33.000
And the inquiries and all the work that I'm doing on myself. Allows me to, to also impact the people around me because they're getting some benefit.

00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:38.000
To the results that I'm having as well.

00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:49.000
Yeah, I just, so appreciate what you said around accountability, responsibility and ownership. And the relationship between those distinctions.

00:36:49.000 --> 00:37:02.000
And empowerment, you know, as, you know, self-empowerment, community, empowerment.

00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:03.000
Yeah.

00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:08.000
Those, those distinctions are everything. To me to me my own personal opinion they're everything to empowerment to not have accountability.

00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:15.000
So to be lacking in accountability, lacking in responsibility and being unwilling to own. And then to claim to be empowered.

00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:35.000
For me, I just don't know how those could ever be. In alignment. And you know those those 3 items are foundational to empowerment and any time that we or any time that I.

00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:43.000
Speaking from the eye as one of our distinctions in the summit. Speaking from the I don't talk for other people.

00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:44.000
Yeah.

00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:51.000
Don't offer other people for myself. So for me. Any time that I feel disempowered.

00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:59.000
All I have to do is look at say, what am I not taking accountability for? What am I not being responsible for?

00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:07.000
What am I not willing to owe? And once I can look at that and really see what's there.

00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:14.000
That I'm not taking on, that I'm avoiding, that I'm turning away from, that is the source of my disempowerment.

00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:19.000
It's just really, just to have access to these kinds of tools, it's power. It's just.

00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:21.000
Beautiful, I wouldn't want to live life without them.

00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:31.000
Yeah, me either, me either. And, and then the other thing to add to that. Is empowering your vision.

00:38:31.000 --> 00:38:32.000
Hmm.

00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:39.000
You know, there's something very powerful about Getting connected to what it is that you're up to in life.

00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:51.000
What is your gift? What is it that you're here? To give the planet because you are unique and you've got to unique gift.

00:38:51.000 --> 00:39:05.000
That only you can provide to the planet. And so How are you gonna do that? You know what, you know, what's in the way of, of stopping you and you have these tools to support you in.

00:39:05.000 --> 00:39:16.000
The development in the excitement and the discovery. Cause again, I'm not trying to figure out how to get there.

00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:24.000
I'm allowing the universe to contribute to me to give me something that I probably wouldn't have thought about, couldn't have thought about.

00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:32.000
Didn't have any access to but the universe provided it to me and said, oh, wait a minute.

00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:43.000
Have you looked here? What about over here? And, and again, that whole expanse ofness that's available that becomes now.

00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:53.000
I wanna say like a game because it makes it fun. You, you know, I've discovered things that I had no idea.

00:39:53.000 --> 00:40:05.000
That were possible. And I gotta tell you something, when people get their vision. They're on fire.

00:40:05.000 --> 00:40:14.000
They are on fire. There's something just just Physically, I've seen people change physically when they got their vision.

00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:37.000
You know, it's kind of like the happy genes kind of woke up and. And and people are just you know are clear and and now clear what their purpose in life is and begin to form me plans around Getting what it is that they want out of life inside of that vision.

00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:47.000
So great. That's so great. You know, we've talked a little bit about, you know, distinctions and we talked about your first.

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:57.000
Interaction with the summit. So you have been to Probably most. Of the annual summit events. Since the inception.

00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:04.000
Do you know how many of them you've missed? You've missed 3. You've missed 3. Wow.

00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:05.000
So yeah.

00:41:05.000 --> 00:41:11.000
I've missed 3. Mystery. I've missed 3. And or and Aren Saunders is the only one that I know of that has been to every single one that we've had.

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:12.000
Wow. Wow. Okay.

00:41:12.000 --> 00:41:20.000
Okay. So, yeah, so I've missed 3. And I've suffered through missing those 3, but now.

00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:22.000
Yes.

00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:26.000
You know, you know, when I look at just the because it's something special that occurs at every single summit.

00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:40.000
Yes, we have. Similar format we may have a different question we may be dealing with some different things.

00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:54.000
But there's something powerful that occurs. And I gotta say this. Because in the International Black Summit is not an agenda that we are driving.

00:41:54.000 --> 00:42:03.000
Does not a book does not something does not a script that we're now, you know, go to the next point to the next point to the next point.

00:42:03.000 --> 00:42:11.000
We're actually listening. We're listening to the space we're listening to what is showing up in the space.

00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:21.000
Because there's something about our people that is very unique. We are about energy. And that energy flows in different directions.

00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:32.000
And you want to kind of monitor, again, the space will give you. What is asking for if you're listening hard enough and good enough?

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:44.000
And that's and that really is the training for being a facilitator in the International Black Summit is your listening skills, your listening.

00:42:44.000 --> 00:42:50.000
For what's being said, you're listening for what's not being said and you're listening for what's between the lines.

00:42:50.000 --> 00:43:03.000
So it's We've gone from, from a passive listening to a really full-bodied listening, we're really listening intently.

00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:11.000
To what's being said and what and what is the issue. And we use the tools to navigate.

00:43:11.000 --> 00:43:21.000
Or to bring out. Because we'll never tell you. You should do this or that. That's not, that's not what, that's not what, that's not how we facilitate.

00:43:21.000 --> 00:43:34.000
We facilitate by asking you a question and having you look to see what is there that you see. And oftentimes we'll follow up, well, okay, where are you now?

00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:40.000
You know, are you? In the different place you're in the same place Do you see something?

00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:50.000
You see an opportunity? And you know, we work with people. We work with people and allow them to see for themselves what it is.

00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:56.000
That is their issue, that is the concern that is their confront. Because sometimes you're confronted by your your own activities, your own action.

00:43:56.000 --> 00:44:15.000
It was like, wow. Did I really do that? Oh, oh, that was ugly. But I noticed it and I noticed it and I and that so now I can do something about it.

00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:27.000
I can at least Clean it up, I can say, look, I'm sorry for what I said or what I did or what have you, but you begin to again that ownership, accountability and responsibility.

00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:36.000
You now have a stake in the outcome that showed up in your space. And and now you could do something about it.

00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:45.000
You know, the thing that for me, I'm really present to as you speak, is the level of respect that the summit conversation has.

00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:54.000
For each person. You know, like in the, you, you, you said that the summit does not tell anybody what to do.

00:44:54.000 --> 00:45:01.000
Like, you, this is, you know, steps 1, 2, 3 for your life. Like there's an innate recognition.

00:45:01.000 --> 00:45:21.000
That no one can tell another person what their vision is. What their purpose is. What will drive them, what calls them forth, you cannot figure that out by just looking at someone, only someone Only that person knows their inner world.

00:45:21.000 --> 00:45:29.000
You know, only that person knows what's being drawn out from the depths, the depths of who they are.

00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:41.000
And, and so the respect for that that I think is is inherent in the summit conversation. Like, we know that we cannot tell you.

00:45:41.000 --> 00:45:51.000
We know that you are the only person who is the expert on you. And that you, we can give you these tools.

00:45:51.000 --> 00:46:03.000
So that you can facilitate. The blossoming and the expression. And the expansion of all of who you are in all its glory.

00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:09.000
But we cannot tell you what that is. We cannot tell you which direction that that's asking to go in.

00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:19.000
Only you in your own essence. Know what that is and and this the summit conversation really respects that.

00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:22.000
And and I value that personally.

00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:25.000
Absolutely, absolutely.

00:46:25.000 --> 00:46:33.000
So let me ask you what was your favorite annual summit event? You've attended all of these all of these annual summit events, probably close to 30 of them, if not 30 of them.

00:46:33.000 --> 00:46:34.000
Yeah.

00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:40.000
And so. What was your favorite one or favorite one or 2?

00:46:40.000 --> 00:46:52.000
Well, you, well, you know, Gonna Africa was a big one for me. I'm going to camp.

00:46:52.000 --> 00:46:53.000
Both of those were in the 1990, s right?

00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:59.000
I went to Kenya and I went to South Africa. And those 2. We're in the nineties.

00:46:59.000 --> 00:47:18.000
Very revealing to me. I had this notion, you know, your soul, this notion of Jungle and Bush and and and everything being so backwards and then you go and you know.

00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:19.000
Yeah, skyscrapers.

00:47:19.000 --> 00:47:26.000
Looks like looks like a It looked like a city in Cleveland, you know, you know, I mean, it's not a whole lot of difference.

00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:41.000
But the thing, the thing I guess for me, the reality for me was that I was somehow hoping to be embraced by my African brothers and sisters.

00:47:41.000 --> 00:47:48.000
And I was very disappointed that I was looked upon as an American first. Which I am, but I mean.

00:47:48.000 --> 00:47:51.000
Hmm.

00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:56.000
But I thought that I thought there would be some connection, you know, you know, we came from you.

00:47:56.000 --> 00:48:03.000
We're, you know, you know, your original and I'm part of that conversation. And, and, and it wasn't.

00:48:03.000 --> 00:48:12.000
And so it was something that I had to deal with personally that I had to deal with personally that was like my personal kind of push back.

00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:24.000
But the other part of it was that I got to discover that they're no different than us. You know, that's the other, that's the other piece of it.

00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:30.000
You know, they were struggling and what they were struggling and what they were struggling with they had some cultural issues that they were struggling with.

00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:42.000
They had some cultural issues that they were working with and or they had some cultural issues that they were working with and or you know governmental cultural you know and and of course You know, you've got tribalism.

00:48:42.000 --> 00:49:00.000
Is the big thing over and Africa. And and have him again having black people work together. So that was an interesting conversation to be part of and then the other thing was that I discovered that.

00:49:00.000 --> 00:49:11.000
That my little black American world. Didn't translate. Everywhere in the world.

00:49:11.000 --> 00:49:25.000
And so there was there were things that I had to learn and had to and and we as the International Black Summit learned about ourselves and about the conversation.

00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:34.000
This conversation with empowerment that we are now carrying because we have, called the the International Black Summit.

00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:56.000
So and and Black is a North American distinction that is different that shows up differently in South America and in in Africa and certainly in some of the European black Africans.

00:49:56.000 --> 00:50:02.000
Differently. So there was a lot of changes. So, so those were exciting pivotal events for me personally.

00:50:02.000 --> 00:50:14.000
I think for the International Black Summit, we went to Brazil. They didn't even have a context of black.

00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:20.000
They had brown. But you know, they have malado, they had this.

00:50:20.000 --> 00:50:26.000
Black, Brazil has a pretty clear, they have a pretty clear context of black now. Okay.

00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:39.000
Well, back back back then it was it was quite interesting just to see how they related to themselves. And how they related to us.

00:50:39.000 --> 00:50:49.000
And, and so that, you know, those. You know, I mean, as I said, each summit had its own uniqueness that had its own.

00:50:49.000 --> 00:51:02.000
Gift. For me personally and a gift to the the whole International Black Summit because as an organization going to the different places.

00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:11.000
Made a huge difference in how we facilitated how we heard ourselves and how we can support people in being empowered.

00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:19.000
So all of those things kind of can't, you know, and of course we were in Jamaica and we were in Diana and and belief.

00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:22.000
Jamaica was my first summit.

00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:23.000
Jamaica was my first summit, yeah.

00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:29.000
Jamaica was your first time, yeah. And, And that and that was interesting because I had a relationship with Jamaica prior to.

00:51:29.000 --> 00:51:45.000
But certainly being there and just you know, didn't know about the vortex and the energy level of of, you know, I discovered the energy level of Jamaican people was related.

00:51:45.000 --> 00:51:51.000
I say it was related to this Glenn Grenner speaking. It was related to the vortex.

00:51:51.000 --> 00:52:00.000
What vortex are you talking about?

00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:01.000
Oh, okay. Oh, I didn't know that.

00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:05.000
The Well, there's Jamaica's actually on an energy spot. Just like Sedoma account So Jamaica, Jamaica's in the energy spot.

00:52:05.000 --> 00:52:09.000
And so, so what I

00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:10.000
No.

00:52:10.000 --> 00:52:14.000
Well, that doesn't that doesn't surprise me because you know Jimmy of my heritage is Jamaican and we're little but with Talawa.

00:52:14.000 --> 00:52:15.000
That's right, Rotala, exactly.

00:52:15.000 --> 00:52:18.000
We We punch above our weight class.

00:52:18.000 --> 00:52:39.000
Yes, definitely, definitely. So that was, you know, so that was interesting because because the the first time we were in a big hotel and then the next time we were in top hill which is just a small town literally on top of the hill in, in one of the parishes.

00:52:39.000 --> 00:52:52.000
St. Catherine and and the people were just wonderful. I mean, they were just that were loving it, they were enjoying it, the kids we had fun with the kids there.

00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:56.000
And you know, it's just

00:52:56.000 --> 00:53:12.000
I think that in going to all these places There was a relationship to community that I got. Connected to and the thing and I am still connected to because I'm still doing a lot of work with community.

00:53:12.000 --> 00:53:22.000
And, and so traveling around the world, understanding. That people have a different come from than I do.

00:53:22.000 --> 00:53:30.000
Allows me to be, you know, again, to be with what is, to know that, that there's no right way to be.

00:53:30.000 --> 00:53:38.000
And, so, and and the other conversation, the distinction is there's no out there.

00:53:38.000 --> 00:53:50.000
So whatever you're seeing over there is reflected of a view. You know, that conversation at your point, you got the 3 fingers pointing back at you and you got the one to 2 fingers pointing in that direction.

00:53:50.000 --> 00:53:57.000
So as you look, has you be with yourself in a way that, you know, again, to notice.

00:53:57.000 --> 00:54:04.000
And to really begin to. Self-. What it is that you're up to and what you're doing.

00:54:04.000 --> 00:54:15.000
The other thing I want to say about community that I've discovered probably in the last 7 or 8 years now being back here in New York.

00:54:15.000 --> 00:54:26.000
Is that When you have a shared vision for that particular community. Then things work a lot better.

00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:37.000
What I notice or what I discovered was that a lot of the not for profits. Were were coming from scarcity.

00:54:37.000 --> 00:54:47.000
Coming from, you know, yes, I've got a great idea. And I want funding for my idea and I don't care about any other non-for-profit.

00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:56.000
Rather than, you know what? Here's the vision for our community. Where do you see yourself inside of that vision?

00:54:56.000 --> 00:55:10.000
And once you have this this community vision. People then begin to partner up with each other. Adversaries now become in partnership because they realize Yeah, you've got something similar to what I'm up to.

00:55:10.000 --> 00:55:23.000
So let's work together rather than squabbling for the same pot of money. Let's work together and get a bigger pot.

00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:42.000
You know, and I think that this vision conversation is critical, critical to our people and our conversation in our communities because If you don't have a vision and your vision isn't big enough, then you get into mischief.

00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:47.000
And and the mischief that I that I've seen in my community here in New York.

00:55:47.000 --> 00:56:06.000
In Jamaica, New York has been one of well who's got the money who's got the ding dong on this and I want to find out because that's who I want to talk to rather than let's let's let's see what your piece is let's work together and we can all have it.

00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:13.000
And, and that's the conversation that I'd love to. To be in.

00:56:13.000 --> 00:56:20.000
Yeah, I just, you know, just want to underscore what you're saying there about vision and the importance of vision.

00:56:20.000 --> 00:56:31.000
And you know, many people in the black community. You know, are steeped in the Christian tradition and there's the scripture that says where there is no vision the people perish.

00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:36.000
Which is, you know, a scripture I've heard. I couldn't tell you how many times in my life.

00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:43.000
And yet the number of times I've heard it said. Just sort of like, in the abstract.

00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:50.000
You know, like an abstract conceptual thing. Opposed to really looking at it from the practicality of it.

00:56:50.000 --> 00:57:01.000
The practicality, you know, we at the summit, our purpose is around a vision. You know, creating, you know, providing an opportunity for participants to bring into being their vision.

00:57:01.000 --> 00:57:12.000
For the black community and the world. And the practical aspects of vision like you were talking about in the nonprofit community in in your community.

00:57:12.000 --> 00:57:19.000
And when there's a collective vision, how that then dictates. How the organizations interact with each other.

00:57:19.000 --> 00:57:38.000
And in our community as individuals, as families, as communities. You know, since the pandemic, there's been a lot of conversation around mental health and people who are actually have mental mental illness or may not have mental illness but are still having their own emotional struggles.

00:57:38.000 --> 00:57:53.000
And how much of that, maybe not on the chemical illness side. But just on the emotional side. How much of that is is is potentially related to a lack of vision.

00:57:53.000 --> 00:58:03.000
Like people looking at their lives or looking at their world and not seeing anything. To co-create, to build towards, to look forward to, to, you know, what I mean?

00:58:03.000 --> 00:58:13.000
Like, what's the vision? You know, just looking out at the world as it is and being dissatisfied.

00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:26.000
As opposed to looking at and clarifying. What that vision is that they are standing for. And that is a vision that's worth bringing us all together to co-create.

00:58:26.000 --> 00:58:33.000
You know, so I just, I do, I agree with you. All of that to say that I completely agree with you on the power.

00:58:33.000 --> 00:58:42.000
Of vision and the importance. For me, now more than ever at this particular time in the world for us each.

00:58:42.000 --> 00:58:50.000
As individuals, families, and communities. To be clarifying the visions that are calling us for.

00:58:50.000 --> 00:58:57.000
Yeah, you know, and the other thing I want to say about a vision. And the vision work that we do here at the International Black Summit.

00:58:57.000 --> 00:59:11.000
Sometimes the vision seems daunting and seems like unreachable. But if you focus on it long enough, and take action consistent with that vision.

00:59:11.000 --> 00:59:22.000
You'll be surprised how. Easily you begin to chip away at it. And, and again, we use the tools of the summit.

00:59:22.000 --> 00:59:34.000
The distinctions, the the inquiries. The conversation. To keep ourselves on track to keep ourselves focused on the results that we want to produce.

00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:42.000
Because we're going to have disappointments. We're going to have let downs. We're going to have things Go sideways maybe.

00:59:42.000 --> 00:59:50.000
But it's but it's not the action that's taking place. It's who you're going to be about that action.

00:59:50.000 --> 01:00:11.000
What are you going to now? Are you going to now? Falling the floor on a tantrum or are you gonna pick yourself up and say okay good that didn't work I know not to do that let me try something else whole different context to to getting back up and when you've got that vision It's supports you in.

01:00:11.000 --> 01:00:21.000
Staying focused and again the work that we do here is about you getting the results that you want out of your life.

01:00:21.000 --> 01:00:28.000
Absolutely. You know, one of the things that I notice for myself when I think about vision And I've been refining my vision.

01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:34.000
Like I have, I have a particular vision, my vision is freedom, abundance and joy for all.

01:00:34.000 --> 01:00:43.000
But beyond that, I'm also in the process of looking at what is the vision that I'm standing for for the world.

01:00:43.000 --> 01:00:48.000
You know, or the future as, you know, for me, I feel like we're in this, you know, turbulent times.

01:00:48.000 --> 01:00:54.000
And when I look at the future, what is the future, what is the world that I want to see, not just what I don't want to see, what is the world that I want to see, not just what I don't want to see.

01:00:54.000 --> 01:01:02.000
But what do I want to see? Not just the not bad and not this, but this, this and this, what are those things that I, I'm standing for?

01:01:02.000 --> 01:01:13.000
And that I hope that we as a as a society can develop into. And so for me, I've really noticed that.

01:01:13.000 --> 01:01:21.000
Recently I've really been looking at my life as holding the leg of the relay race for my ancestors.

01:01:21.000 --> 01:01:33.000
My ancestors ran their leg of the race. They did what they did and they held what they did and they made the contributions that they did such that I'm here now.

01:01:33.000 --> 01:01:46.000
And I'm here now in generally improved circumstances relative to what most of them experienced not too long, well, I mean.

01:01:46.000 --> 01:01:47.000
Oh really?

01:01:47.000 --> 01:01:52.000
You know, a couple of generations ago, a few generations ago. So right, so relative to a few generations ago, I am in better circumstances.

01:01:52.000 --> 01:01:59.000
And I'm not just looking at better circumstances as the next generations of my family, but for the world.

01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:10.000
Like, what's the world? Like, you know, we as black people. I'm, I'm stepping on your interview.

01:02:10.000 --> 01:02:11.000
That the god, that's fine.

01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:24.000
But we. But we as black people have provided a major contribution. To how humanity interacts with certain concepts.

01:02:24.000 --> 01:02:36.000
We have as Black people have lived certain experiences that has then made humanity be able to look at the concepts of freedom and liberty in new ways.

01:02:36.000 --> 01:02:47.000
And, and so I feel like we are still on that trajectory. And we've made movement over the last, you know, 150 years.

01:02:47.000 --> 01:02:55.000
And there's more movement or 200 years and there's more movement to go in terms of what that really means and looks like.

01:02:55.000 --> 01:03:01.000
For all of humanity across the globe. And so I'm in my leg of the race. And.

01:03:01.000 --> 01:03:17.000
And so the idea that the vision that I'm holding is something that has to. All of that to say that the vision that I'm developing feels like a division that doesn't have to be fulfilled in my lifetime.

01:03:17.000 --> 01:03:23.000
Like it like movement towards it in my lifetime, but will we get a hundred percent there in my lifetime?

01:03:23.000 --> 01:03:28.000
Maybe, maybe not. You know, I don't know. I'm not saying yes or no.

01:03:28.000 --> 01:03:33.000
But even if it doesn't. My commitment is to run my leg of the race.

01:03:33.000 --> 01:03:43.000
Yeah, and see, and see that's an important conversation. It is no matter the result in your lifetime, your inside of your commitment.

01:03:43.000 --> 01:03:51.000
You're gonna do the things that are gonna be working towards having that. Commitment be fulfilled.

01:03:51.000 --> 01:04:00.000
And, and again, that's your leg of the race. That's, that's your peace that you contribute and add on to it.

01:04:00.000 --> 01:04:10.000
And we all hope that we can see of visions to the finish line. But as you said, we may not.

01:04:10.000 --> 01:04:22.000
But if I can rest my head at night and know that I've done Something to move that forward, you know, to move that dial forward.

01:04:22.000 --> 01:04:31.000
Then I'm feeling satisfied and feeling that I've accomplished something. And and not that I'm done, not that it is over.

01:04:31.000 --> 01:04:43.000
But I can go to bed that day, that night, and know that, feel good about myself. And ready to wake up the next day to move it, you know, a little bit more forward.

01:04:43.000 --> 01:04:44.000
So. You know it

01:04:44.000 --> 01:04:47.000
And we may see it in our lifetime. I'm not saying we won't. That's for sure.

01:04:47.000 --> 01:04:48.000
Absolutely.

01:04:48.000 --> 01:04:52.000
I'm not saying we won't see it in our lifetime. We may.

01:04:52.000 --> 01:04:58.000
Yes. With that intention, it's all about, you know, that's the other part of our, keeping our attention.

01:04:58.000 --> 01:05:03.000
On the prize you know what it is and I love what you said earlier You know, focus on what you want.

01:05:03.000 --> 01:05:13.000
Not what you don't want. And that is such an important part for me. For keeping myself empowered.

01:05:13.000 --> 01:05:21.000
Because I can think of all of the different scenarios. And if I'm focused on the negative.

01:05:21.000 --> 01:05:31.000
That you know that whole conversation your cup is half full or half empty. What are you focusing on? And I promise you if you're focusing on the opportunity.

01:05:31.000 --> 01:05:46.000
Then you will begin to see opportunity in front of you rather than anything else. And and and you When you see that, oh, you feel good about yourself and you feel motivated and you're now ready to do some more.

01:05:46.000 --> 01:05:53.000
You know, work and and that really is You know, that's the thing if I look back.

01:05:53.000 --> 01:05:59.000
In all those years just keep moving forward, you know, how does the mouse eat the elephant?

01:05:59.000 --> 01:06:03.000
One bite at a time, so just keep moving it forward. And you'll get there. And you know, and you'll see movement.

01:06:03.000 --> 01:06:25.000
You know, the thing, I think the thing that is Upsetting for most of us and I'll speak for myself is that I focus on what I didn't get done and sometimes I forget to focus on the accomplishments.

01:06:25.000 --> 01:06:32.000
And somebody will have to remind me and say, you know, You did this, this, that, that, and the other.

01:06:32.000 --> 01:06:38.000
And I was like, what? And I look back, I was like, oh yeah, I did do that.

01:06:38.000 --> 01:06:45.000
I, you know, so, so I think it's a I think it's important to.

01:06:45.000 --> 01:06:56.000
To have those kind of conversations and certainly It's an important conversation. We have a youth summit and we have a young adult.

01:06:56.000 --> 01:06:58.000
Summit. And.

01:06:58.000 --> 01:07:16.000
Yeah, so let me ask you about that. You know, you, at the top of the and at the session the interview I read your bio and mentioned that you have been heading up the International Black Youth Summit with Joyce, with Joy Jones for over 20 years.

01:07:16.000 --> 01:07:23.000
So I wanted to ask you about the youth sum at the International Black Youth Summit and your involvement over this time.

01:07:23.000 --> 01:07:29.000
Particularly like where you see, what's your vision? Let me ask you this, what is your vision?

01:07:29.000 --> 01:07:37.000
In this moment, what is your vision for the International Black Youth Summit? What's your vision for the Youth Summit?

01:07:37.000 --> 01:07:50.000
My vision for the youth summit is for us to. Bring back some young people who are interested in taking over the program from Joy and I.

01:07:50.000 --> 01:08:01.000
We, had some very dynamic. Youth. 14 of 15 all the way down to 8.

01:08:01.000 --> 01:08:11.000
And, and they developed the curriculum. Which we still use parts of what we've modified it.

01:08:11.000 --> 01:08:20.000
But the curriculum is. The curriculum is so killer that it still works. I mean, that's the thing.

01:08:20.000 --> 01:08:21.000
Venta.

01:08:21.000 --> 01:08:32.000
You know, it's very fundamental. It has. Youth look at You know, their relationship to the black community.

01:08:32.000 --> 01:08:38.000
You know, 1, one of the things that we do in there, we ask them is, well, what to?

01:08:38.000 --> 01:08:43.000
What do people say? About the black community. You know, what do black people say about the black community?

01:08:43.000 --> 01:08:57.000
What do you say about the black community? And they begin to formulate and understand their thoughts about the black community.

01:08:57.000 --> 01:09:06.000
And understanding that that none supersedes anything else. But is how do you think about yourself, really?

01:09:06.000 --> 01:09:18.000
In the bottom line. And so we use that kind of work to develop themselves. We also make make it a point to have them stand up and speak.

01:09:18.000 --> 01:09:28.000
To the other youth so that they would actually so when we're in person We actually have them stand up and turn around and speak to the whole body of youth.

01:09:28.000 --> 01:09:39.000
Now of course, since we've been virtual, it's not quite as easy to do that, but we still have the same kind of intention around having them speak.

01:09:39.000 --> 01:09:47.000
Because one of the things Alright, listen, that's one of the reasons why did this work back in 1,981.

01:09:47.000 --> 01:09:54.000
I wasn't comfortable speaking in public. You know, I'd be in, I'd be in a meeting.

01:09:54.000 --> 01:10:01.000
And, I know they, you know, they say, you know, some technical thing. And I know the answer.

01:10:01.000 --> 01:10:08.000
I wouldn't raise my hand. I'd wait till the end of the meeting and then walk over to the person and tell him the answer.

01:10:08.000 --> 01:10:17.000
That, you know, to the issue. But I wouldn't raise my hand. And one of my coworkers knows that.

01:10:17.000 --> 01:10:18.000
Well.

01:10:18.000 --> 01:10:22.000
I would have never guessed, Glen. This is what you know, this is this is what you call transformation.

01:10:22.000 --> 01:10:31.000
Right. You know, the summit is a transformational conversation and you're so transformed in that area.

01:10:31.000 --> 01:10:35.000
It's almost like you didn't even remember that you used to be that way.

01:10:35.000 --> 01:10:40.000
Yeah, yeah, I mean it really, you know, I had to look back and say, wow.

01:10:40.000 --> 01:10:53.000
That is a change that you know and and all the work that I've done since then is about leading, you know, you know, speaking and leading because I was, you know, I didn't, I didn't talk much.

01:10:53.000 --> 01:10:58.000
You know, some people say I still don't talk much. Except, you know, certain situations.

01:10:58.000 --> 01:11:05.000
But the Opportunity really is.

01:11:05.000 --> 01:11:17.000
If I'm going to speak. I'm gonna move the room forward. So I'm always listening from a standpoint of what's gonna move this this room forward?

01:11:17.000 --> 01:11:36.000
What's gonna? Cause not about, you know, reengaging and oh yes you're right or you're wrong but it's like what what do we need to move the conversation and I've been able to do that as a facilitator and an international black summit with the youth.

01:11:36.000 --> 01:11:45.000
I've also been able to do it in various community organizations that I'm working with that I'm leading sometimes or not leading.

01:11:45.000 --> 01:11:57.000
But able to impact the conversation. And so getting back to the use. Having them be able to speak their vision.

01:11:57.000 --> 01:12:05.000
And to begin to understand that they're responsible for their lives, the accountability, responsibility, and ownership.

01:12:05.000 --> 01:12:16.000
You know, we have those kind of conversations with them about. About their parents about the teachers about other people who are in the adults that are in their lives.

01:12:16.000 --> 01:12:29.000
And you begin to and you can hear the conversation. After 2 or 3 days inside of this conversation, you can begin to hear them formulating their lives.

01:12:29.000 --> 01:12:42.000
I know we had a I conversation. With some youth in Guyana this past August. And you know.

01:12:42.000 --> 01:13:00.000
1314 year olds This one guy said he's going to be an engineer and he is looking to Create a economic system That is sustainable that helps the planet.

01:13:00.000 --> 01:13:01.000
Now, you know.

01:13:01.000 --> 01:13:04.000
Oh, get to work. Please, kids. I love it.

01:13:04.000 --> 01:13:13.000
You know, 13 years old and then if I go back. We went to Anguilla probably in 2,006.

01:13:13.000 --> 01:13:25.000
This seven-year-old says to me, I want to be a forensic scientist.

01:13:25.000 --> 01:13:26.000
Watching a lot of watching a lot of CSI maybe.

01:13:26.000 --> 01:13:42.000
Give me a break, 7 years old? I don't know nothing about forensic. 5 just You know, it was like Yes, you catch a CSI or you know, but it's but it's The what I'm always amazed at is their ability to to adapt.

01:13:42.000 --> 01:13:50.000
And much quicker, you know, of course they've got different set of tools and so on and so forth, but I wasn't thinking about any of that stuff.

01:13:50.000 --> 01:14:03.000
The last time that we went to G in, in person, We had the youth. The develop, you know, what would you want to, what's your vision for your community?

01:14:03.000 --> 01:14:04.000
Hmm. Nice.

01:14:04.000 --> 01:14:19.000
They came up with that. I want a shopping center, a movie theater, a pool, a exercise club or you know some place where they they go And I'm like, wait a minute, they're developed in a city here.

01:14:19.000 --> 01:14:31.000
These are little kids that that are you know haven't haven't had you know you know master's degree in developing communities.

01:14:31.000 --> 01:14:41.000
But they had a they had a whole community economics that worked that created a money supply within the community that they were living.

01:14:41.000 --> 01:14:43.000
Okay.

01:14:43.000 --> 01:14:45.000
You know, it's like, so. So the work that we do with the youth is just phenomenal.

01:14:45.000 --> 01:15:11.000
And then if I look at the youth that we work with over the years. Lawyers, parents now having their own kids we had one guy I'm he and his wife have 3 autistic kids.

01:15:11.000 --> 01:15:12.000
And we interviewed them on this podcast. That's right.

01:15:12.000 --> 01:15:26.000
And the We interviewed them on the podcast. And because of the work that they did at inside of the youth summit, they now had a capacity to listen.

01:15:26.000 --> 01:15:34.000
To their autistic kids. In a way that supported the kids. And supported each other.

01:15:34.000 --> 01:15:42.000
You know, I just want to interrupt you for a second. You know, as we go deeper into, into what some of the.

01:15:42.000 --> 01:15:48.000
Past participants of the Youth Summit have created in their lives and in their communities. I mean really, really.

01:15:48.000 --> 01:16:02.000
Impressive impressive lives that many of them have gone on to lead. Just a couple of things. I wanted to go back to something that you said about speaking to always move the conversation forward.

01:16:02.000 --> 01:16:06.000
And as you were saying that, like you've gotten to a point where that's what you're always listening for.

01:16:06.000 --> 01:16:14.000
You're listening for when you speak for it to be a contribution that moves the room forward. That moves things forward.

01:16:14.000 --> 01:16:27.000
And as you were saying that what I was present to. Was the internal security. To to not be speaking from ego.

01:16:27.000 --> 01:16:49.000
You know, that you are not like the conversation and your contributions to the conversation are not about you. Not about you, not not about impressing people, not about having people think that you're smart, not about having being the one to present the idea, just just being a contribution.

01:16:49.000 --> 01:17:03.000
To the space and the internal security. Takes to come from that place. As opposed to you know when we're insecure and often many of us are as young people, right?

01:17:03.000 --> 01:17:04.000
Hmm.

01:17:04.000 --> 01:17:18.000
And when we're insecure, it's like, OK, if I say this, well, you know, will, will that be, will, will that get people's approval if I, you know, or if I say it this way in a deep voice, will that will, will I see more commanding?

01:17:18.000 --> 01:17:33.000
Or you know like all of those kinds of things that are not about just like what's the conversation we're having and what's going to move the conversation forward, move the room forward in ways that have absolutely nothing to do with me.

01:17:33.000 --> 01:17:41.000
It's just about what we are creating or what the space is asking for. And the internal security.

01:17:41.000 --> 01:17:45.000
That that sits on top of. Do you see what I'm pointing to?

01:17:45.000 --> 01:17:55.000
Absolutely and and I and for me If I'm inside of my vision. Then the personal stuff just falls away.

01:17:55.000 --> 01:18:05.000
Because it's a bigger conversation than me. See, one of the things that we say about a vision is that is something that I can't do by myself.

01:18:05.000 --> 01:18:15.000
I health wealth and abundance available for all. I can't do that by myself. I need partners and he partners out in the world to be able to do that.

01:18:15.000 --> 01:18:17.000
So if I've got my attention on that, then that's what I'm listening for.

01:18:17.000 --> 01:18:39.000
Rather than promoting Glen. Oh, Glenn is this and Glen is that and so on and so forth and you know I I I often smile when I hear people well I got this and I got that and I got that okay are you moving the conversation forward Usually not.

01:18:39.000 --> 01:18:54.000
Right. Any one of us, any one of us can move the conversation more forward whether we have this you know you just pointed to so this takes us back to the youth summit you appointed to seven-year-olds and thirteen-year-olds who are moving the conversation forward.

01:18:54.000 --> 01:18:55.000
Yes.

01:18:55.000 --> 01:19:03.000
And the examples of past participants of the youth summit like you talked about the couple that we interviewed on this podcast of the Youth Summit, like you talked about the couple that we interviewed on this podcast.

01:19:03.000 --> 01:19:17.000
And how they are moving the conversation forward with their autistic children and that they are contributing to the community.

01:19:17.000 --> 01:19:18.000
I talk so

01:19:18.000 --> 01:19:29.000
Of parents who have artistic children. They have a website. They have a podcast. So you guys can anybody who's listening or watching on YouTube, you can check out the podcast interview with them and you'll have links to their to their resources.

01:19:29.000 --> 01:19:33.000
Also we have a podcast interview. With a past youth summit participant who's now an author and a professor.

01:19:33.000 --> 01:19:49.000
We have a, you know, an interview podcast interview with another youth summit pass participant. Who's also engaged in all kinds of fantastic things in their life.

01:19:49.000 --> 01:20:03.000
Like just really creating beautiful, beautiful lives and really creating beautiful, beautiful lives and really major contributions to their communities and really major contributions to their communities.

01:20:03.000 --> 01:20:04.000
I love it too.

01:20:04.000 --> 01:20:19.000
I love it. I love it. You know, the thing the thing is so great is, you know, I'm, I'm in tears most of the time when I'm listening to them because I'm just blown away at how Powerful they can speak.

01:20:19.000 --> 01:20:32.000
If you give them the space and to be able to authentically speak themselves with no judgment, no criticism, just a bit, you know.

01:20:32.000 --> 01:20:43.000
Say what's there for you and when they do it's like wow you know I'm just I'm just honored that I can.

01:20:43.000 --> 01:20:55.000
Be in that kind of a space. To facilitate those kinds of conversations. And that's not to say that the adult conversations aren't aren't as great as well.

01:20:55.000 --> 01:21:03.000
Because they are as well because you get to see people really getting their lives. Inside of the offerings that we have.

01:21:03.000 --> 01:21:12.000
So we have the annual event. Which is one offering that we do in August. We also have the prerequisite.

01:21:12.000 --> 01:21:20.000
We also have a community. Program. That that we're making available to communities.

01:21:20.000 --> 01:21:30.000
The communities have to request it, but it will come out and will support them. In their conversations around transformation and empowerment.

01:21:30.000 --> 01:21:37.000
And, and you know, there's probably some other programs that, are There to be developed.

01:21:37.000 --> 01:21:53.000
We've got a body of work. That really allows us to really for me to go into any industry any field and really make a difference and move the conversation forward.

01:21:53.000 --> 01:22:01.000
And you know I'm just excited to be part of that conversation. I heard the conversation in the beginning.

01:22:01.000 --> 01:22:19.000
I was moved to walk into a room of a hundred 20 for people who didn't know each other but were all there with a commitment, a consistent commitment to to bring to transformation to the black community.

01:22:19.000 --> 01:22:32.000
And wasn't restricted to the US or North America, but the black community around the world. And we've been delivering that kind of conversation.

01:22:32.000 --> 01:22:42.000
For youth, for young adults. And for adults around the world. That's why I'm I'm still part of the organization.

01:22:42.000 --> 01:22:52.000
I'm still facilitating. And and you know, working towards that vision, working towards health, wealth and abundance available for all.

01:22:52.000 --> 01:23:04.000
And I believe that that is possible and if we work together. There's nothing that we can't do together.

01:23:04.000 --> 01:23:13.000
Thank you so much, Glenn. Thank you so much for being here, for being our interview guest this run.

01:23:13.000 --> 01:23:14.000
You're welcome.

01:23:14.000 --> 01:23:15.000
Thank you. And thank you for everything that you've done since the very inception of the organization to support the organization.

01:23:15.000 --> 01:23:32.000
Its creation, its development, it's ongoing. Management and for supporting the youth summit and being a lead for the youth summit for all of these years and everything that you've made available to the youth.

01:23:32.000 --> 01:23:40.000
Who have come through and who are now. I mean, we have no idea the ripples that they are creating, the openings that have.

01:23:40.000 --> 01:23:50.000
That have were initiated by their participation in the youth summit and for adults they're participation in the adult summit.

01:23:50.000 --> 01:23:54.000
Thank you.

01:23:54.000 --> 01:23:55.000
Yes.

01:23:55.000 --> 01:24:01.000
I just really appreciate you. As my team mate on the podcast. And I appreciate everything that you have done and everything you do and be for the International Black Summit.

01:24:01.000 --> 01:24:03.000
So I have one final question for you.

01:24:03.000 --> 01:24:07.000
Yes, all right.

01:24:07.000 --> 01:24:20.000
The final question is, and this is one we often ask. Many of our interview guests and that is What are 3 wishes that you have for the world?

01:24:20.000 --> 01:24:25.000
Right now. What are 3 wishes that you have for the world right now?

01:24:25.000 --> 01:24:40.000
Well You know, the standard would be world peace. But but it's actually deeper than that. It's It's for us to realize that we're all connected.

01:24:40.000 --> 01:24:41.000
Hmm.

01:24:41.000 --> 01:24:56.000
No separation. So that's one wish. And that this whole conversation of Wealth distribution

01:24:56.000 --> 01:25:09.000
To flat line that. Flat line that so that everybody has access to everything they need and then what would be my third wish.

01:25:09.000 --> 01:25:21.000
I guess my third wish is that that We would take care of the planet. Even better than we take care of our bodies.

01:25:21.000 --> 01:25:28.000
You know, if we treated the planet you know, like an extension of our body. You know, how will we treat the planet?

01:25:28.000 --> 01:25:46.000
So those would be my 3 wishes, cause I'm, I'm very connected to nature. I love being out nature connecting with the animals and you know I've been, what did Chaacia call me?

01:25:46.000 --> 01:25:54.000
She called me Ranger, Ranger, Glen Ranger Bob. But I love being out.

01:25:54.000 --> 01:26:07.000
In the world with nature I love being with people. And so that whole connectedness connected to everybody, everybody being connected to each other.

01:26:07.000 --> 01:26:11.000
We wouldn't need wars, we wouldn't need, you know, the strife and the struggle.

01:26:11.000 --> 01:26:22.000
And if we weren't concerned about wealth and taking care of providing for our you know, basic needs.

01:26:22.000 --> 01:26:34.000
Then you know it would be in a euphoric world where we just You know, enjoy ourselves, have fun, be connected and, a joyous environment.

01:26:34.000 --> 01:26:37.000
So anyway. Those are my 3.

01:26:37.000 --> 01:26:45.000
I love it. Those were 3 great. 3 great wishes for the world. May your 3 wishes come true.

01:26:45.000 --> 01:26:46.000
Absolutely. Yes, I would.

01:26:46.000 --> 01:26:51.000
What a beautiful world that would create. Thank you again for being with us tonight. Was a. My pleasure.

01:26:51.000 --> 01:26:55.000
My pleasure, my pleasure. Thank you.

01:26:55.000 --> 01:27:03.000
And thank you all who are listening or who are watching on our YouTube channel. Thank you for being with us.

01:27:03.000 --> 01:27:04.000
And our website is

01:27:04.000 --> 01:27:07.000
We hope you'll join us next time. Good night. Oh, our website is. Blacksmith.

01:27:07.000 --> 01:27:25.000
Dot org. Black summit.org. You can check us out there. You can also check out our YouTube channel and our social media presence, Facebook.

01:27:25.000 --> 01:27:26.000
All the places that we appeared.

01:27:26.000 --> 01:27:29.000
Twitter and whatever other faith. All of the places, all of the places. Check us out.

01:27:29.000 --> 01:27:36.000
See you next time. Good night.