Tools and resources they need to drive positive changes in their communities and in their schools. We are thrilled to continue this partnership and we support nick to elevate these voices around the country. Super excited to hear the youth speakers today. For you all, the young people that are raising invoices to help shape your communities were glad youre here. Thank you very much. [applause] you mention the amazing young people that are up here today. My name is Stephanie Cruz and im am on the boardam of this challenge. This is exceptionally exciting that we are going to hear the soapbox. 25000 young people who have participated in the soapbox challenge in the country. We are very lucky to hear these amazing stories. Im going to turn it overr to gt us kicked off. [applause] wonderful thank you both so much. So myself and my colleague we will be emceeing today had we are just thrilled to hear the speeches these brave young people who are you going to speak out on the issues that matter to them, that they want to see change. I wont be speaking so much today because we really want to center their voices and their wisdom and listen to their perspective. Without further ado, im going to call our first speaker mohammed. Come on up. [applause] 35000, that is the number ofs innocent souls put to rest since 2012 by gun violence. Did they deserveve it. Absolutely not. And yet here we are talking about them in past tense. My name is Mohamed Adams and i come before you to talk about the tragic and violence epidemic that occurs in the United States. Since the horrifying School Shooting in connecticut sandy hook elementary school, there has been more than 1600 and Mass Shootings. While the families of those who have been killed in these ludicrous incidents drowned in grief. The government watches with glassy eyes. Many attempts to protect and serve the interests of the public, is continue to be undermined. The unprecedented ideals of gun violence continues to be subverted as if it is not a real issue. Gun violence is a cruel and inhumane and a cast of chronic problem and only america dilemma. In 2018, the shooting at a bar in oaks california, mark the 307 mass shooting in 2018. To put that in perspective, when that occurred, it was 312 days into the air claiming that the us had nearly as many Mass Shootings as days. As many Mass Shootings as days. How disappointing to everyday a possibility of a mass shooting possibility is still active anda real. In 2015, loan. 2824 children children who are clueless of dangerous and evil world where the arent even safe where they spend most of their lives in and to spiting birthday, their kindergarten graduation and awaiting, too tightly had their parents once i get out of school they died by gunshot. An additional 13723 were injured. If we are capable of building walls and locking immigrants from coming and then we are able to burn those walls that do nothing about gun violence in their blind chart cited to those who have suffered. I call for action to you is to make sure the armed guns are out of the criminals hands. Demand them to have more blockage forum to buy guns. But an 18 yearold should never should never have access to an Assault Rifle. Are you kidding me. Are you kidding me. An 18 yearold who has very grasped a responsibility of adulthood has access to an Assault Rifle what planet are we living in. Ill tell you, the planet where we learned from san bernardino, we learn from the synagogues in pittsburgh combine, the most in new zealand. But we did not learn to do something. In fact anything for those 2824 children. And you want to know the saddest part, places of worship are under assault every time a bullet is more important than life. Do what ist needed until this place can be saved for the future generations in america. Enough is enough. Thank you. U. [applause] thank you mohammed. Can i tell you are right they are from great moment was from new york queens. A book is a wonderful piece of magic. They can transport you to another world. It can give you a glimpse into the life of another person. It teaches you empathy. For children, reading is vital. Children from low income families need books thero most. They need that escape. That hope. That hope for a better future. However, it seems that these children are our lowest priority when it comes to reading. Over 8. 7 million low income students are not proficient in reading. These are the kids who are going to make up the future of our nation. It is imperativeur that we give them the resources they need, and deserve. How can we dow that. Libraries are not getting the funding they need. In 2013, the budget appropriated only 0. 06 percent of their money towardsbr libraries. How can we grow and improve when we are taking something as magical as libraries for asgranted. Now some people still may not believe that this is a problem. Oaks are disappearing to makepe way for a new era the era of technology. Technology is a wonderful thing, but studies show that children growing up in homes with books, average three years more schooling and children growing up in homes without books. Thats regardless of the parents class occupation and education. In addition to this, a study by a Reading Agency shows that reading can reduce anxiety and stress. Increased selfesteem and even reduce symptoms of depression. Its magic. So, now that you know the problem, heres what i need you to do. Support organizations that will solve this problem. Such as reading fundamental. Most importantly, read. By reading to the children in your life, and encouraging them to read, we can move with a stronger better tomorrow. Thank you. [applause], thank you iv, next up is malika. [applause] hi this is my soapbox speech. Before i began, id like to asko if everyone can see me well. Can you now. [laughter] great because in the ice people of color are seen as invisible. No matter what wee abolished, no matter what we establish we will still be there. O and then the words of Martin Luther king junior is on word dangerous and conscientious stupidity. According to npr africanamericans when dealing with the leases 50 percent with a job is 52 percent to receive the promotion is 57 percent going against skin color racism is not okay it has never been okay but those people that make excuses in the words of me is when skin color is different than yours. So if we can see that every race is equal that its darker it is less attractive according to society we see racist acts all the time and do not announce them. So personally join me on this journey to denounce this behavior in the thing is i am 13. This is summer i should be going to a pool Party Instead here i am telling the adults to shape up. [applause] im not done. [laughter] and you want to know why . The men that have the strongest dream of them all. [cheers and applause] up next we have nehemiah jackson. [inaudible conversations] have you ever heard from social media . What is happening all over the country are all over the world. This needs to end. They are turning a blind eye to the us citizens. In 218998 people had been stopped by police thats two people away from 10,219,418 were murdered by Us Police Officers and we are in the month of july. This is not how we should be treated because we are all human beings. To be by government officials i researched in 2172 Police Officers were charged they hit and kicked and threw them to the ground. What does the government do . Nothing. Police and government are o teaming up this is not right. Today want everybody to feel like family or like me. Or grandson or your son. My solution to have better training to deal with t the problem so that they haunderstand why they are being stopped by police. With criminal investigations Traffic Control selfdefense and computer skills. And then to deal with Mental Illnesses so they know how to handle their own anger they dont know how to handle their own. That if it is a dream. The rovers to mars then surely we can make a weapon that does not kill. May be a rubber bullet and in america one famous rapper to make us think they are the victims. [cheers and applause] up next. [applause] good afternoon. Today i have a sensitive topic i would love to talk to all of you about per guard like everyone in the audience close their eyes. You are drivein into a hut to an elderly woman tells you to strip off your close in the naked. The same woman brings over a sharp rusty orange knife slices off something in between your legs and you scream in agony and in pain you look at your mother for help but she looks at you and tells you to quiet down because youre being too loud. Now open your eyes. This is a story and reality of that delicate piece of flesh were her genitals her victim was the only crime to be a girl at the wrong place. I understand this is taboo to discuss and difficult to hear but it is a subject that little or no recognition. If everybody is too afraid to discuss this then progress will never be made. 44million under the age of 15 with that mutilation or circumcision. And with all or some of the female genitalia the whole purpose is to control a womans sexuality to ensure virginity and decreased pleasure. Is done by people with no medical knowledge and the consequences lead to ptsd anxiety infection, childbirth complications and death. It is a disgusting and horrible barbaric procedure that must be put to an end. One is by signing a petition population growth will outpace progress over the next 15 years. The number of women subjected to harmful drive on rise dramatically. And have their childhood deprived of them only six out of 195 countries have equal rights for men and women. Those are just as valuable and need someone to speak up for them. And please help me and female genital mutilation. Jaelyn johnson. [applause] School Shootings of no place in our country or anywhere. To be being Born Beautiful with big doe eyes. All of yours to love. You come home from work one day and you watch the news youre not surprised by what you see and then the news anchor says when will we learn that these just happened . The active shooter you call your mother you call everyone you know you pray and you bend at the waist and beg god. Is this the day he takes his lastta breath . In 1998 they had this exact same fear when a boy he murdered two of his classmates to in 2012 sandy hook elementary lost their babies because a grown man murdered 21t graders with a gun and in 2015 and a Community College a man murdered eight of his classmates because he felt he did not fit in. In 2018 a boy shoots up Marjorie Douglas high school killing 17 with a gun. The 2012 School Shootings in america have become terrifyingly consistent just in the two year time span between 2013 and 2015, 142 School Shootings have been reported as of 2018 that has grown at 239. Over 400 people have died as a result of open gunfire on the school campus. Teen homicides rose 27 percent in 2016 firearms contributed 87 percent this has Many Americans with the absolute band of guns. The idea like the muslim plan that was implemented our president is quicker to forbid a human being to enter the country then banning why already exist in our country. Might desk shouldnt have to defend me from bullets i dont have to worry if my willingness our teachers are willing to sacrifice their life to save mine not only as a citizen of the United States earth. A child of the i am not at war as a High School Student there is a desperate need for change as someone who is not yet allowed to vote i am for all of you when the time comes when that window of opportunity opens please vote for efficient gun laws for the future of america your babies. Your children. Your sons and daughters. We are embedded in a country that refuses to prioritize people over the safety of an adamant objects. [cheers and applause] thank you. Up next aria bowman. [applause] she was a pretty girl but she will not ever believe it she could find 1 million imperfections within one square inch of her body that mask of makeup to shield the eyes from her freckled face. Shes a pretty girl that she wont ever believe it. The crossed arms are too high that extra piece of cake that she thinks makes her fat. She wishes she wasnt so skinny shes a pretty girl. But she wont ever believe it. The thing she sees on tv tells her she is not good enough that she needs to be thin and tall and white and successful and have a small apt on appetite and thick. Shes a pretty girl but she wont ever believe it. If she wakes up in the morning with a visit on her face she cannot go to school because she sick she cries herself to sleep because when she looks in the mere she cannot stand herself. Shes a pretty girl but wont ever believe it she stays away from boys because they could not possibly love someone that looks like her. She was told she had to look a certain way to attract men like it is her job to attract men. She was told this is not how she looked. Shes a pretty girl she wont ever believe it. How could she believe it when society tells her every part of the way she looks is wrong . Put on weight are you healthy . You look manly. Guys dont like skinny girls you shouldnt wear bikinis you are ugly. Shes a pretty girl but she wont ever believe it. The body expectations they are eatenno alive. She wishes she loved but there will always be someone more beautiful. Shes a pretty girl but she wont ever believe it. Young girls are told to sit quiet and look pretty and be obedient and be perfect. When will we stop tearing ourselves apart over what the like . Tells us to look and then to find that courage to shine through. Shes a pretty girl and she knows it. [cheers and applause] up next is luke. [applause] did you know 91 percent so then to convert that waste material into new materials. Of eight. 3 billion metric tons six. Three are plastic waste. Only 9 percent have been recycled the vast majority so atpo some point could you imagine to eat that plastic and i . Over 100,000 marine creatures die every year. That is awful. By the end of 2016 2819 there will be billions of tons of plastic in the landfill that is 35000 times as heavy av the Empire State Building and 8 Million Metric Tons and the plastic trash around the world. Some but then with the recycling materials also reusing reusable water bottles. I want people to not be lazy and throw it with those materials to be recycled. I know a World Without trash. Also to float the clean ocean to fish the plankton so lets start today. [cheers and applause] i am sorry black man but the streets of the ghettos. But how your father might t be. I will pay you to work under the table. People are profiled and punish every day just for beingng themselves. As an active american africanamerican woman and with that fate that has come to me before i am born. With my hair or my close because my skin tone alone i can be labeled as the unsophisticated black girl. May have been run through the streets 82 percent of africanamericans are the most discriminated upon in society. Or how inequality could still for those who are apt to kill about first circulation but do we really believe all muslims have something to do with 9 11 . So Police Officers are so stcareless with those latinos. But then we will start to look at each other as equals. To reflect on ourselves we could have done something about it. The next time you see someone discriminated upon the put yourself in their shoes. Thank you come on down. [applause] the 13 lives of columbine, 27 of sandy hook. Fortynine at the polls nightclub and 58 at the Las Vegas Mass Shooting in the cocountless others. The feeling to reach the colorblind leaders. We saye ve we live in a free but how can we live there with the hate outside of our doors . We should be scared 393 million civilian firearms. And with those 36 percent and fthere is enough to out purchase each person in the country. We should be scared because we are not safe here. As students we are expected by the government to get up every morning and go toge school hoping that it will be safe. Nothing has changed since hook. Ine or sandy how are we supposed to trust a system that is failed the so many times before . Going out to have fun can and out think it will for the las vegas so it hasnt been for the victims we know that there is a chance we may never come home when we go to the grocery store. There were over 300 Mass Shootings. 300 times again was firing killing or injuring at least four people and we watched and let it happen. Hour was laws that happen letting people come into our schools and to work in places of worship ergo we are a nation divided by greed and hatred. Time and time again by the legislation and government and when asked they chose guns over our lives. The countless lost will forever be to our generation and generations to come with this horrific time for go there is something wrong people are expected to work itself out. We will not be sent into a war zone with their lives every day knowing there will be no change because we are not targets. We are your future. [cheers and applause] when i was four was a big sister to my first foster brother. We didnt share the same parents we shared the same birthday. He came into my life broken put into foster care suffered a fractured skull way he was one of the most joyful and loving people i know. The meaning of resilience. One of the most special relationships 437,000 youth in foster care. All needing a place to call home weather emergency that is only one or two nights or one that could ended adoptionat you dont truly provide a home if you dont treat them or love them as your own. These children come from places of pain and hurt whether abuse or neglect or trauma. On average a child will move seven times while in foster care. That is unfair they never get to settle in one place. But i will admit it scary to be a foster family that stood should not be a reason for people not to foster. Groups of siblings and kids with special needs constantly moving from home to home because theres not enough to provide them with the level of care that they need. And then