I listen to myself reflect on SXSW and words like awesome, amazing, fascinating, inspirational, humbling . . . exhilarating pop and crackle through my mind. These descriptors may sound tired, over-used, even trite yet, they each define the truest sense of my experience.
By FRAN TARR
AWESOME: Pat Tod, from our Breaking Walls Board of Directors, happily served as my wing-woman, friend, constantly keen observer and fervent cheerleader as I navigated a forum of over 74,000 people. Thank you dear Pat.
AMAZING: Amanda Cadran of Educational Leadership for Equity in Outcomes mentored me for 40-minutes and provided guidance that will move myself and Breaking Walls forward for many, many years. Bless you Amanda.
INSPIRATIONAL: The brilliant faces sharing fresh, bright ideas of Kema and Keisha Charles, Sara Sutton, Eafat Newton, Rwenshaun Miller, Aidee Granados, Marni Rubin, Brian Michaud, Raj Patel; and, Destiny Polk of #radicalblackgirl, a Spoken Word artist and dancer opened a whole new world to Breaking Walls, and for women and men across our country and the globe. Much, much more to follow on this topic in future Newsletters. ONWARD, Team Safe Space.
Then there is Senator Mazie Hirono whose gracious attitude, and clear, honest, down-to-earth words struck a huge cord within me. Her ability to make me feel like the most special woman in the room anchored her a gigantic role model for me. What a woman you are Mazie.
FASCINATING: For four days I allowed myself to explore on a board scale who I am, how I am perceived and received; and, how Breaking Walls so deeply resonates with individuals cross-culturally and inter-generationally.
HUMBLING . . . EXHILARATING: Every minute I shared with my fellow awardees at the 2019 SXSW Community Service Award Ceremony. It was my first experience waiting in a “Green Room”. More importantly, it was humbling to be received with such warmth and respect by my fellow awardees. It was exhilarating to listen as applause twice interrupted my remarks.
Shukran, donka shon, Nkosi kakhulu, gracias SXSW!
I returned from SXSW a better, stronger, more transparent “nurturer in chief”, as well as a more determined emerging CEO of this amazing youth empowerment movement.
It is with a deep attitude of gratitude I bid adieu to 2019 SXSW and embrace its ripple effect on myself and Breaking Walls long into the future.