There aren’t a lot of times that I am left speechless, but when trying to come up with the words to describe our Positivity Summit this past Friday at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center I have to really sit back and give it some thought. Positivity Summits for me are like my wedding. You have all these amazing humans from different pinpoints in your life that are now intersecting with one another. It’s like the multi-verse is opening and now you’re watching your childhood friend Larry hang out with your new friend from the UK Garry (Two real people that actually hung out)
While I force myself to think of words to describe the day the ones that immediately start to surface are connection, energy, openness, positivity, love, and empathy. We’ve all been to rah rah events where you have (as my brother Garry puts it) a sage on the stage that is looked at as the guru you came there for to fix your “damaged” life. Sure there may be some celebrities (“OMG I saw Sinbad at the snack bar”) and some cool MTV jock jam music to get you “pumped” up but after all the glitz and glamour what’s left when it’s over? A couple of memories of people that you will most likely never see again. Your notes get lost somewhere in your office, and you go back to focusing on surviving this journey we call life.
I am no sage on a stage. I was raised by the great Tina Thomas who taught me at an early age that no one is above or below me. My job is to not only meet and greet every human that shows up at the summit but to also interact with them. The same goes for my speakers that give their absolute all on and off stage. They are part of the event not just hired assassins that give thirty minutes and then sneak out to the closest exit.
As I watched Garry Turner, Bridget Aileen Sisco, Amy Munoz, Erica West, Scott Mason, and Nathaniel Brown not only give their heart and souls to their talks, but to the attendees and the rest of the event I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of joy. Attendees didn’t pick up and run out after it was over, it took us two and a half hours before we finally left the building. The people that were in attendance are already connecting and collaborating, and asking for the next one.
This is not some event, it’s a movement, and as we have seen throughout history movements are bigger than just one man or woman. For a movement to grow it takes an army. Our army is 50 strong right now, and we are only getting bigger. Thanks again to everyone that made this day so special, I can’t wait to see you all soon!!!
