Conspiracy of love

Tonight my friend Julie and I went to hear Mayor Cory Booker through OSU's First Year Experience Distinguished Speaker program. (Thanks to my other friend Julie, who works for that program and snagged us tickets.)

For those of you who may not know who that is, Cory Booker is the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, a scholar, an upstanding citizen, and one hell of a ranconteur. As an urban planner and enthusiast, I was interested in hearing him speak, but my friend Julie is a super fan and she was pumped. He did not disappoint. He spoke for almost two hours about his life experiences, how he got to where he is, and some lessons he learned along the way.

His main theme was about how his life was all thanks to the people who came before him. We are all standing on the shoulders of giants. He used the phrase, "conspiracy of love" over and over again. That thanks to a conspiracy of love - of community members, strangers, people whose names he does not know, his father was able to go to college. That through the hard work of his parents and their generation, he was able to achieve all that he has achieved. Underlying his message that we should be aware and thankful for the people who have come before us was one that we need to help people up as we achieve. Pull people up with you. Make your community better by looking out for those around you. 

I am so glad I was able to hear him speak. He is inspirationational. It's good to be reminded that we need to speak our truths. Be our true selves. He is enthusiastic and has an open heart and an open and curious mind. Hearing people like that speak can do nothing but excite you. Plus: hugger.

Comments

[Julie]

I am a superfan of both Cory Booker and you. Best birthday ever!

[Sharon]

OMG!! This is amazing. I'm so glad you heard him speak. I've been a fan of his for a very long time and every time I've heard him speak he reminds me of the old souls I've heard growing up all my life--those voices wise beyond their years. That for such a young man to have lived the dream and embraced a powerful message so fully has always kept me watching him. He's a wise soul, someone the elders would say, is so wise, "he must have been here before." Excellent post!