(Transcript) 38. What Does it Mean To Make Movement Accessible? Live Panel in Partnership with On
Noor (00:00):
3, 2, 1. Hello, beautiful community. Welcome back to Podcast Noor. This storytelling session is a special live experience. We recorded this podcast panel a few days before the 2023 New York City Marathon as one part of a partnership with the sportswear brand ON, and their social impact arm called Right to Run. On has been my go-to, for walking, running, working, out, and they just feel like clouds on my feet. Anyway, this conversation is about democratizing movement and what it really looks like to make movement and exercise accessible for all people. Our three panelists come from different experiences, being indigenous and an immigrant, navigating addiction and homelessness, and finding or rather creating safe spaces for folks. You'll hear me introduce them fully shortly, but I want to bring you into the space. We are in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the on store in their upstairs community space. Before people were able to enter, they were greeted by my mama and the founder of ISeeYou Foundation where every attendee made an ISeeYou care package for people experiencing homelessness in New York City.
Noor (01:23):
That was Adam's idea, welcoming guests with an act of service. Then around 50 of us gathered upstairs with pizza and the delightful on team, and we got into our bodies and got vulnerable about obstacles that we find in our way. My favorite part of this event was how engaged community members were. This is a very full conversation, voices from all over the world. Literally, the energy in the room is of collective healing and collective winning. Everyone is rooting for the other even when fear is present. And you'll hear my own experience with that when I share my own fears around running and a community member who stops me in my tracks. We are so excited to share more from our project with on's right to run. Enjoy the storytelling session on breaking barriers to movement. I'm Noor, At Your Service.
Okay guys, I have to tell you raise, like, make some noise if you made an ISeeYou care package before you came in.
Noor (02:27):
Wow. So that was, uh, mama, tell everybody say hi. Say give. This is my mom. She founded ISeeYou Foundation and um, on our first call about this event, Adam, my partner in all of the things, this is Adam, he, uh, pitched, he pitched an idea that, um, everyone would have to make a care package before coming in to the event to set an intention of being of service. So, thanks Adam for your brains. Thanks mama, for coming here and guiding all of us in these jigsaw puzzle ways. 'cause as you all have experienced, it's not the easiest thing to do to put together these care packages. And thank you Lauren and Olivia and the rest of the on team. We're so happy to be here. Okay, so I am going to, um, before we introduce our incredible panelists and get into the conversation today, I'm just gonna ask everybody, um, raise your hand if you've had like a really intense, heavy last few weeks. Keep your hand up if you've like, had really hard conversations you never thought you'd have to have. Yeah.
Noor (03:37):
Okay, cool. So same. So I'm gonna ask everyone to like, just close our eyes for a minute and we're just gonna do some breathing so that we can get into our body because like, we are so, So, So, so lucky and so blessed to be here. We're so blessed to be alive. Um, so I'm gonna just do like three breaths, four, inhale count four hold four exhale. You can make all the noise that you want and just like, Just Come into your body. Be here. 'cause you're here right now. So, all right, it's gonna be four. Inhale, 2, 3, 4. Hold, 2, 3, 4. Exhale
Noor (04:25):
In Hold. Exhale.
Noor (04:38):
One more.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Hold and exhale. Wow,
Noor (04:53):
I needed that so much, guys. Thank you. Thank you. Um, I know for, for many of us here, we have seen, we have witnessed, we have been eyewitnesses to some really horrifying things. Um, and my heart is with people and civilians in Palestine right now who are
Noor (05:18):
Going through it. So my intention for tonight is that as we talk about democratizing movement, we are also honoring, um, and, and sending love to people who are not able to actually move, whether it be in their own physical bodies, whether it be in their own spaces and where they're living, whether it be because, um, they simply in themselves haven't been able to like, you know, be embodied enough to, to do the movement that is required of them or that their body is yearning for. Which is why I'm so honored to be speaking to all three of you today because each of of you have have actually in your own right, broken barriers to movement. So I'm gonna kick off some introductions. Our first one is Gaby Alcala, who is an Aztec mixed tech indigenous woman from Oaxaca who immigrated to the United States at age 19.
Noor (06:17):
She started her running journey 10 years ago, and in that time she met an amazing coach who believed in her potential as a long distance runner. She has since been pushing the limits of her body, including participating in the speed project with a team of six women, as well as a 340 mile prayer run, which I'm very excited to ask her about. With the indigenous people in Utah, she has run 50 mile races, several marathons, half marathons, and five Ks. And Gabby is an athlete advocating at rising hearts, which is a running collective focused on social change. She's also a mother and a neuromuscular therapist who understands all the struggles the body goes through in long distance running. Gabby, we have Sen Van Beek all the way from Amsterdam, Woohoo Sen is the founder of We Are, a gym in Amsterdam. And as a non-binary person, Sen has experienced a lot of stress in the gym, despite sports being the thing that boosted their confidence. Sen wanted to fill a need for transgender and people who deal with the struggle and anxiety of exercising in group settings. And Sen's dream is to create a safe place for the lgbtqia plus community to exercise any way they want in the comfort of their own space and bodies. Sin.
Noor (07:58):
Derek Drescher. You may have seen his face as you walked into the store today. He is a services specialist for Back On My Feet, a nonprofit that uses running as a catalyst for people who are displaced or unhoused. Derrick himself has battled with homelessness and addiction, and it was running, that became his tool to sobriety. So one of the things that Derrick said to me that like has been blowing my mind was that he actually ran his first marathon less than a year after his last overdose. Am I correct in saying that? Right around that time? So this super Yes. Thank you. Thank you. I actually wanted to also kick us off because like, I feel like with addiction, it's like one of those things that raise your hand if you know somebody or you yourself or you've just encountered at all. Anyone who has struggled with addiction in your life, that's like an overwhelming majority of this room. And yet, and yet it is not something that is talked about as often in, in like group settings. Do you, do you find that to be true?
Derek (09:07):
Uh, yeah. And also, you know, so many people struggle with addiction and I just think that the way it's looked at and how you might get treated if you ask for help keeps people from not talking about it.
Noor (09:21):
Ooh, accountability on all of
Derek (09:23):
Us. Yeah. So then you just fall apart until everybody knows Anyway, so,
Noor (09:27):
Well, okay, so I wanna get to that. First I'm gonna ask you, how's your heart doing today, Derek?
Derek (09:32):
My
Noor (09:32):
Heart. My, your heart.
Derek (09:34):
Like physically or emotionally, however
Noor (09:36):
You feel inclined to answer that. The question is coming to you guys too.
Derek (09:39):
I feel, I feel good. I feel good. Yeah.
Noor (09:41):
Yes. In your body.
Derek (09:43):
My body, yeah. Body mind. Yeah. I'm happy to be here.
Noor (09:45):
Beautiful. Gabby, how's your heart doing today? Do you not have a mic? Do we not have two other mics?
Speaker 4 (09:52):
Oh,
Noor (09:54):
Gotta pass the mic here.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
<inaudible>. Yes. Um, my heart is full and gratitude for the opportunity to be here, um, sharing our stories and in a different city, uh, my city. And I'm sorry if I get like, emotional. Um, I'm very a cry baby. <laugh>. So you can say that. My heart is very soft. Yes. Yeah. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (10:23):
Well, it's, it's amazing to, uh, to be invited for, for such a thing to share your story. So I think my heart is very full of love and excitement to, um, to talk to you all. Yeah.
Noor (10:41):
Thank you all so much. Do we have mics? Okay. So Derek, yes. I would love for you to kick us off. Can you tell me, tell us the story about the run that changed everything for you?
Derek (10:56):
Uh, there was two, there's two that stick out to me. The, the first run I had. So just so people have a little context, I, uh, it was a horrible, uh, heroin addict, uh, had like a four bundle a day habit at one point. It's a lot of heroin. And, uh, I ended up with nothing. I had overdosed quite a few times. The second time they brought me back to life, they, you know, they had to gimme two shots of Suboxone. Um, if it wasn't for my brother, it was the one who dragged me into the er room. But, um, I, the nurse came to me after, after they, uh, after they got me stable and I could like talk. And she told me, she's like, you're the only one that we saved this week. Whoa. Yeah. And, uh, I did use again after that, but it wasn't with like the same ferocious.
Derek (11:49):
And, uh, I basically ended up in this program on 43rd and eighth. And, uh, through there is where I got introduced to back on my Feet, which is, uh, that nonprofit organization that I, I now work for. He was running as a catalyst, you know, to help you get back on your feet. And, uh, my first run, you know, you gotta realize I'm going, you know, I had like a pause, which is post-acute withdrawal. I wasn't sleeping well, I was on a bunch of medication. I'd gained a ton of weight. And, uh, that first mile, they call it the Miracle Mile, it took me about 14 minutes. And then within a year of that time, I had run my first marathon in under four hours. And it was That's amazing. It was mild. Nice. That's
Noor (12:36):
Amazing. Yeah.
Derek (12:40):
I also wanna say that's the best marathon I've ever ran ever in my life. <laugh>. I never came close, ever again. <laugh>. So, uh, mile 25 of my, of my first New York City marathon. Uh, I remember I didn't have like a nice watch at the time. I just had like a regular digital, and I was looking at the watch and I saw the 25 mile marker and I was like, I was like, I don't think I'm gonna make it an under four. I don't think I'm gonna do it. And then I was like, you've worked so hard to get where you are. You know, you're, you're not using drugs like your family's back in your life. You, you made every mile of this of the training. Like you, you did it all. And I started to cry as I was running and I was like, no, no, chill, chill. You need this <laugh> <laugh>. I was like, you need, you need this for, you know, for this last, you know, push you're gonna do. And then, yeah, I ended up three hours, 58 minutes and 46 seconds. Wow. So, yeah. Yeah.
Noor (13:42):
It's amazing. Yeah. Thank you. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>.
Noor (13:49):
Hi there. I want to share with you a good deeded opportunity. At ISeeYouFoundation, we work to alleviate local homelessness and directly serve community members in need. We do this through our community pantry, family food bags, hygiene kits, snack bags, winter care packages, and grocery gift cards. Lately we've been seeing incredible impact by partnering with businesses and organizations to host volunteer events where their teams make and distribute the ISeeYouCare bags. ISeeYouis our response to a community member who, when we asked what she needed most responded with, we just need to be seen. So if you would like to join us in seeing and serving the community, email us at contact@iyfoundation.org. Okay. Back to the show. Gabby, what is, tell us the story about the run that changed your life.
Speaker 4 (14:52):
I, I mean, every single run is a special because it has a different meaning. It depends on how emotional emotionally or spiritually you are. But the first one that, um, that actually changed how I see running is when I run my first marathon in 2017, uh, in our co-chair. Uh, accordingly to the asset calendar, we follow the trena, the twenties of, uh, it was 20 years that I was living in the States. Um, and that was a prayer run for water is life in the moment. We were, um, advocating for water is life, uh, with the North Dakota people. So I wanna be grateful for the opportunity and following my traditions on the 20 years is when your life change. And lemme tell you that your, my life has changed so much. So in 20 years, uh, I was giving tanks for the opportunity to live in Tonga land.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
I mean, LA and my community recognized me, uh, for the world that I do in the indigenous community with the feather. So that day we have, uh, new Year's, Aztec New Year's, and my community recognized me because I was about to run my first marathon. And, uh, elders from the indigenous community in la, they talked to me and they guide me and the Tonga people like, give me the blessings, um, because we were doing it the right way. So I under, uh, in that moment, I understand the importance of asking permission to live where we live and connect with indigenous people where we are. And also, uh, bringing my own traditions and combining them because at the end, it's everything about the land, the community, and the people. And that was a super beautiful experience. And I can say that that changed my life, my, the way that I see life, because I was having the purpose, not just for me in the moment of running, because I was celebrating 20 years, uh, in the States, but also I was praying, running for what is life and the people that was in the, in the front sand and for the people that deserve clean water, because water, people would think that money is the goal, water is goal, and water is what give us life.
Speaker 4 (17:29):
So that's, thank
Speaker 2 (17:30):
You. That's beautiful. Thank you.
Noor (17:37):
The run that changed everything.
Speaker 5 (17:40):
Well, I don't run
Noor (17:42):
<laugh>, the <laugh> the workout that changed everything.
Speaker 5 (17:46):
<laugh>. Um, I think, so I used to, before opening, uh, my gym, I was, uh, in and before Covid, uh, I was in, um, training for a competition in two Strongmen, um, which is basically lifting really heavy stuff and strange objects. Um, <laugh> Yeah, <laugh>, it's no other way around it, but, um, it's, um, yeah, I was training in order to compete and I was like, through the first round, so I was able to attend the competition and then Covid hit and everything got canceled. Um, so it's actually not like I've never actually competed. Um, but then like, as a non-binary person, um, doing a sport called strongman is kind of binary. Um, so that's also something that I'm now, uh, looking into. Uh, and I'm back on my training schedule. Uh, so hopefully next year or year after I'll do my first competition.
Noor (18:55):
Oh, whoa. That's amazing. Yeah. Congratulations. Tell me about the, the moment that you realized you wanted to open this gym.
Speaker 5 (19:03):
Oh, um, yeah. So figuring out your whole gender identity and just really, um, trying to listen for, to your body. Like for me it really was like, I sometimes say like, I was like locked up in my body from like, age of like 12 to like 27. That's when I figured out what non-binary was and like that that actually fitted me. Um, so being locked up in your body for such a long time, but feeling the need to like, work out and like attend like sport places and stuff like that, but never really feeling like you fitted in because it was always like, I was never one of the guys and I was always never one of the girls. So I also never knew like, who I was like belonging to or wanting to meet up with. Um, and back then I was, uh, so I was active in the community, so I did like, meet up with people from the community.
Speaker 5 (20:07):
Um, but there was always something that really like stopped me from enjoying sports. And then I came out as non-binary, started living my life, starting to figure out who I was and starting to more and more notice that I wanted to work out. I wanted to be in a gym. I wanted to build on my body. I wanted to feel like strong and like everything that I always felt from within. Um, but yeah, still had the problem. There was, uh, coaches not understanding what I was saying. So coaches thought like, oh, oh, you wanna lose weight, or you want to like, gain weight or you like, you wanna like achieve like certain numbers to be able to lift or stuff like that. And that was all not what I was saying because it was all with my gender dysphoria that, um, they didn't understand. And also back then I didn't know how to like tell someone that didn't experience the same things.
Noor (21:11):
So you filled a need?
Speaker 5 (21:13):
Yes. And then I thought like, well, I'm a strong person, I can get done <laugh>, like <laugh>, why not start a degree in personal training, figuring out if I like this stuff and build a gym myself. So we started a campaign called Build That Gym. Wow. And, um, did a crowdfunding and then six months later we opened up.
Noor (21:37):
That's incredible. Yeah. Congratulations. Thank you, Derek. Yes. How'd you do it, man?
Derek (21:48):
How,
Noor (21:49):
Yeah, like how, like what was the self-talk like? What were the conversations you had with yourself? Was community a factor in it?
Derek (21:56):
Yeah. Community was a big part of it. Tell me more. Uh, so the, the program right back on my feet partners with the program that, you know, I'm, I'm living in, right? So it's like I'm getting, uh, two, I'm getting like double treatment, you know what I mean? Because now I'm part of this running team. And then I'm also like working on my substance abuse issues inside of the program. But I only joined because they were given everybody sneakers,
Noor (22:30):
<laugh>,
Derek (22:31):
And I didn't have anything. So I was like, I'm gonna join. I'm gonna get some, I'm gonna get some Nikes. And, uh, it, uh, it, I, it didn't really, I was so aloof. I had, I was so detached. I had no idea like what was happening in the world around me. Like the, uh, there's volunteers that come out and run with us in the morning, and I thought that these people like worked for the organization. And then when I found out that they were volunteers, I was like, what is wrong with you people? Why, why are you waking up at four 30 in the morning to come hang out with me? This is ridiculous. And, you know, they hug a lot
Noor (23:08):
<laugh>.
Derek (23:09):
And in the beginning I was like, oh, don't touch me. All right, nobody <laugh> just leave me alone. But, um, they, they, and then they would talk to you on the run, the volunteers the whole time. They're like, oh, tell me what's going on, this and that. And I'd be like, yo, lady, shut up. I'm, I'm gonna die. Like, I can't <laugh>, I can't breathe. And then eventually what happens is, you know, they're asking you about your day. They don't care about, you know, what you did in your past. They just wanna assist you with getting to where you're going. And then I wanted to give everybody a hug and I was asking everybody how their day was. And it just, you know, if it was brainwashing, it was a good kind <laugh>. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So thanks for sharing that. Yeah. I wouldn't be, I wouldn't be where I am without those people for sure.
Noor (23:58):
Like at what point in that journey did you realize that sobriety was like kind of the move for you?
Derek (24:06):
Well, I, I knew I had like, um, even though I knew I was sober at that time and clean, you never know, especially with heroin, it's very tough. Uh, or opiates in general. It's like this thing that's always hanging over you. 'cause I try to get clean before I'd get like 30 days, 60 days, and I would relapse. And, uh, you want, you wanna know when I knew it was the move. Yeah.
Noor (24:28):
I wanna know,
Derek (24:29):
All right, this has nothing to do with running. Right. But I was walking down eighth Avenue, like, you get passes after you've been clean for a little bit, they let you go, you know, buy stuff, candy cigarettes. And I was walking down eighth Avenue, it was 2014 I think, and I was wearing a, a Sean Jean Velo suit <laugh>, and nobody else was wearing one. And then I was looking at the billboards and I was like, who the Hardy's people? And then I was like, oh, the world is passing me by and I need to, the world's not gonna change for me. I need to change for the world. And that was, yeah. Wow. Yeah,
Noor (25:13):
That's like something I've really, really, really realized in the last, I mean, I've been realizing it a lot, but I feel like in the last couple of weeks it's been more clear that like we cannot change people. We cannot impose ourselves onto people. We cannot change the world. Like the actual thing of changing the world is changing yourself. Like that is because when you change yourself, you are in like inevitably changing your actual reality or changing your actual world, and then you get to design the world that you want to live in. And I'm so happy to hear that you like. You got that. Yeah. And you're here. Yeah. And now you're the face of this store,
Derek (25:51):
<laugh>.
Noor (25:52):
Woo.
Derek (25:55):
Thank
Noor (25:55):
You Gabby. The prayer run. Can you just like guide us through what is, what a prayer run is? Because I remember even like when we had our first conversation, just hearing you talk about running, I was like, this is very much a spiritual act. Like, it's like you, you engage in running as like your feet and your body connecting with the very earth that you're touching in every movement. What is a prayer run and why is running so spiritual for you?
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Um, prayer run is a ceremony. Um, is like, is the same, you know, when you go to church or, uh, whatever the space that you are that you believe and pray for someone else. Uh, running for me, it's an offering for the people that can move. Um, like three weeks ago I just run Toronto in a prayer run. And um, and I read it on my leg is was the first time I actually, um, let people know the reason that I was running. That was a prayer room for peace. And it was heavy in certain parts, let me tell you. 'cause um, I was thinking of the people that didn't wake up the morning, um, the mothers, the kids or whoever lose someone the, the morning. And I was there being able to run, sharing a space with thousands of people in a different city because I'm from Mexico, so I'm an immigrant and I've been living in the states for the, for the past 26 years. Um, so that's why running is ceremonial. Running is prayer, running is connectedness to ourselves and also to the land. Because in the land that we stay, sometimes there's people that's been given their life for us. Like when I was in Toronto,
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I don't know these flashbacks were coming like especially 'cause for what is happening in the other side of the world. But also the people that were in this, the land that I was running, like all these flashbacks were coming and I say, oh my gosh, what a privilege because these people give their life so I can be able to run in this land and this connectedness. So that's why it's so important for us to run in prayer because, um, in the prayers that I've been doing, it's uh, for missing indigenous women, the land back, um, so many reasons like for the water, for the earth, um, it's more the offering that I can give. Um, just putting that little grain of sand in the universe because we, as you say, we're ripples or effect. So other people can learn how to connect with themselves and they can do it, but also it is to be full on yourself so you can give that, because otherwise what are you giving?
Speaker 6 (29:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (29:32):
So, um, connecting with the land, connecting with the universe. And one of my sisters, uh, indigenous sisters, she shared with me like, I'm grateful that they create, that your ancestors carry you through the whole 26.2 miles <laugh>. That the 0.2 are the fathers
Noor (29:53):
<laugh>,
Speaker 4 (29:53):
Forget about the 26. It's always those 0.2, um, last, uh, steps so that I was able to move my body because people, like people that are in drugs, they can do that. But if I can get offers like a mile just for the people that are in this world, in this hell in this minor state, that they can move from that space. That's, um, a gratitude from my heart. And if it is for someone that has missed their daughter or their mother, because whatever was happening, the indigenous communities, but not only in the indigenous communities, it's also like people that they can live their truth or who, who they feel identify that for me, it's a gratitude that I can able to move for those that they, that can move. Yeah.
Noor (30:54):
Thank you so much for sharing that. There's, um, how many of you are familiar with the book Braiding Sweetgrass? Handful of you? Yeah. Okay. So Robin Wall Kimer, she is, um, a beautiful indigenous author and botanist and uh, I listened to the audio book 'cause it's just so stunning. But one of the things that she says about ceremony is that we engage in ceremony to remember what we remember. And I think a lot about like this concept of remembering and how like everything that, all of the answers that we're looking for, everything that, like we're seeking external validation, seeking external guidance, like all of those, all of it exists inside of you if you are willing to like ground and listen and remember what you remember. And I think running as a ceremony is such a powerful act because it requires you to be mindful of your actual like, mind, body, soul.
Noor (31:54):
Like you have to be, otherwise you'll get injured or otherwise you'll get injured. Really? That's all I'm scared of. <laugh> I don't run, but I'm very like, I admire all of the people who are, and it's, it's been so inspiring. Thank you for sharing that. Because I think that like, I, I think people have different ways of prayer and different ways of ceremony, but like, it's all about really, I feel like for me, getting back into our bodies and being here now, like, you know, so many of us are so glued to our screens. My screen time is up by like a gazillion percent right now and it's, it, I don't know, it's like, uh, sometimes you just have to like pull yourself out of it and remember like, what's right here. And I would love to know s like what does it mean for you to be in your body?
Speaker 5 (32:40):
Um, to be in my body means, yeah, just to, to to be me, like to be valued and seen and acknowledged, uh, as the person that I am and not needing to fit in someone else's standard or in fit in into the guidelines that we were brought up with. But to really just know that I can just be me and that that's okay. And I think that's, um, like you mentioned earlier, like, hey, um, like we can't change the world and you can't demand the world to change. I, I feel as a non-binary person, I feel a bit different about that because, oh, I'm not gonna talk to you if you don't respect my pronouns. Like, and like that of course is still me cha like choosing to, um, to change myself and to try to let that change be seen by others so that they can change themselves as well. Um, but I think it's as a, as like we non-binary, people need to also stick up and like say like, Hey, you know, like we are here and like, you need to change because otherwise you're not gonna be inclusive towards everyone and you're gonna, so I like, yeah. I
Noor (34:06):
I I still think that you're like leading in that though. Like you're saying you're setting your boundaries for like how you engage with the world.
Speaker 5 (34:13):
Yeah,
Noor (34:14):
Yeah. I think it's powerful.
Speaker 5 (34:15):
Yeah. Yeah. I I just partly won the, a lawsuit against the Dutch state, uh, about the topic. No way. Yeah.
Noor (34:23):
Tell me more. <laugh>
Speaker 5 (34:24):
<laugh>. So I wanna change my legal documents and my legal name. Um, and we don't have the X option in the Netherlands, uh, yet in a way that is, uh, achievable for everyone. Uh, but also if you do have the X, um, you can't get married, you can't, um, get children because you, that those are things that are in the law designed for men or women. Um, and I wanted to change my name and I wanted to change my passport because that is the option that you can do, but then the rest isn't arranged. So I took a lawyer and I went to court to the Dutch state and I just said like, well, you know, like, I think that's a bit, um, in conflict with the laws that we do have, which say that we um, that non-binary people are seen and acknowledged. So likewise isn't the law book then, according to that. So yeah.
Noor (35:24):
Congrats. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (35:25):
<laugh>,
Noor (35:26):
You sued the state? Yes. Okay. I wanna open it up to the community in the room right now. And ju is that Wiam from, did you come from Canada?
Speaker 4 (35:38):
Yes. I,
Noor (35:40):
Oh my gosh, it's so great to see you. Um, so I wanted, uh, because San brought it up about like this whole idea of like changing the world and changing yourself to change the world. I wanna know if any of you have feelings about that? Like what, how are you redefining for yourself what it means to embody? I should, I should clarify. Okay. A question I'm asking myself a lot lately is how do I personally embody the world that I want to live in? How do I like work on myself so much and so constant that everything that I like, for example, if I'm seeing so much division in the world, but I wanna see unity, then like how do I look into my own heart and see the cracks of division and see the cracks of judgment and see the cracks of hatred and be like, need to work on that, need to work on that need to work on that. Because like that feels like the only option to me at this point. So I'd love to know if any of you have any questions that you've been asking yourselves or like ways that you've been thinking about like, showing up differently in the world. Yeah. Gabby, kick us off please. And then somebody raise your hand.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
<laugh>. So in our traditions, uh, we say that we we're like the hands, um, the fingers on our hands we're different, but if we come together, we're powerful. So that's why this, um, we always do this HandsOn that doesn't matter the race, it doesn't matter who you are as long as you become a human and you can connect with human to human and you know that love is the only one, the only medicine that can save us, we are together. It doesn't matter what race you are, it doesn't matter what political party you are, as long as you choose human. And as long as you choose love, that's what matters. So that's why we always do this.
Noor (37:41):
Thank you Gabby.
Noor (37:46):
Hi there. Nu here from at your service. At your service is a storytelling company. We tell stories as a form of service. And the way I think about it is story first, medium, second, meaning we don't think, Hey, I really wanna produce a podcast. What should it be about? No, we think of it as we have a story we want to tell what is the best medium, the best way to tell it. Maybe it is a podcast, maybe it's a documentary series, a virtual talk, a speaker series, a dinner party, maybe it's a book club. The list goes on and on. We also love being of service to companies and brands and nonprofits to help them tell the best story possible so that they can serve their audience and their communities. So if you wanna check out more of our work, you can do so@a.media. You can also find the transcripts for all our podcast episodes right there. And if you're enjoying this podcast right now, it would mean so much to me if you could leave a review and give us some feedback. Let us know if you like this style of podcast or if you're looking for something else. And of course, if you have any stories you'd like to pitch for us, you can do that through our website as well as always at your service.
Noor (39:08):
Dale, can we pass, um, Derek's mic Dale here. Dale Wright. Dale, yeah. First, uh, ISeeYou Care package maker of the night. He kicked us off. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Speaker 7 (39:20):
Um, you know, so when you mentioned even just struggles and things that you, you battle with, um, so just a little context. Um, former NFL athlete, I've had every athletic ability in the world, um, but movement and a nu the number one reason I came to this panel is, uh, my sister has physical and intellectual disabilities and at five years old she had the flu and woke up the next day and could never walk again. Whoa. Um, you know, even thank you for sharing your story. Uh, my dad suffered with heroin addictions for an extremely long time. Um, but I think like when we talk about.
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Speaker 12 (00:00):
About how to battle some of these struggles. And this is what the health and wellness industry has done for me. I was always raised to be a servant leader. Um, and that might be lonely. That might not be the easiest thing
Noor (00:12):
To do. Can you define that for us?
Speaker 12 (00:14):
Um, I think of what can I do for others and I don't need nor want anything in return, or what resources do I have that are a privilege to have that can help other people? Um, and I think when you take that perspective and when you talk about inclusivity and the movement, um, and just the community, uh, it's, it's something that's extremely powerful. Um, and I would say just going off that, 'cause it just touched me, um, if you are struggling with something, like you don't have to take that weight and carry that by yourself. Like, as human beings, we are meant to share that, you know, and that's why everyone's here today. So, um, I think just overall the smallest thing, uh, can be so powerful. And, uh, I mean, just like today we kicked it off serving others. So
Noor (01:08):
Thank you so much Dale. Anybody else have any perspective they wanna share on that? Yeah. Scissors.
Speaker 13 (01:22):
Uh, good evening. Uh, first off, just wanna give a shout to everyone on the panel for coming here and sharing your story. Uh, shout out to Derek for wearing the Sean John Velo suit. <laugh>, I am sure you rocked it. Gabby, if you were back here like I am listening, uh, nothing but sniffles and empathy, uh, for your story. And Sean, thank you again for sharing your story with us and living your truth. And that's, that's the, the hardest part. The hardest part is before I can connect with any and everybody else, I have to figure what is it that I am searching for. Uh, and to do that I actually go for a run injury free
Noor (02:08):
<laugh>.
Speaker 13 (02:10):
Um, and so to go for a run to allow me to clear my head so that I can better connect. So whether that is through community, whether that is figuring out my tribe, but then it's going back to what Sean is saying and making sure that you're constantly living your truth. And that takes a lot of courage. So I think it's connecting it's courage and community.
Noor (02:37):
Thank you so much. Can we get your name again?
Speaker 13 (02:39):
Uh, Mor. Elena.
Noor (02:41):
Maria. Elena. That's right. Thank you. Mor Elna. Thank you. Anybody else? Or we'll get back to Yes. Amazing. Love it. Well,
Speaker 14 (02:50):
Thank you Sean. I'm with you. I don't like running. I like pushing things. Things are heavy. I like pushing them. That's just me. Um, but
Noor (02:57):
Let's get your name, TAIK
Speaker 14 (02:59):
Norman. Uh,
Noor (03:00):
Tik. Nice to meet you. But,
Speaker 14 (03:01):
Uh, just sitting back here listening, I just think about things that boss lady always constantly says about equity. And I think about the conversation and my thought every day is, how do I change the conversation about movement or just anything in life? And each day I want to put a positive thing in changing that conversation around movement or anything in life. So how can that change the conversation in a positive way? That's just how I approach it each day.
Noor (03:27):
Well, thank you so much. I wanna know more though, like, how do you approach that? Like, what are you asking people or how are you engaging in the conver Are you starting the conversation?
Speaker 14 (03:34):
So each day I'm just trying to get to know one thing new or try to share one thing that I've learned with each person that I come across. And it's, if it's around movement or fitness or health and wellness, something that positive that helped me and gain something that positive help a way I can share with the next person.
Noor (03:49):
That's so amazing. And what is it for today?
Speaker 14 (03:52):
Today is just saying hello and giving out hugs. That's what I learned today. <laugh>,
Noor (03:57):
I loved hugging you earlier. Thank you so much. It's so great to hear from you. Anybody else? We love hearing from you so much. Let's get the mic back. So the intention of this conversation is about democratizing movement, but like, what does that, what does that mean to you, Derek?
Speaker 10 (04:27):
Hmm.
Speaker 11 (04:29):
Well, democracy is like, government,
Noor (04:32):
Like making movement accessible, like breaking barriers to movement. Oh. Like, so that everybody, like, so that we can define a, define it differently for everyone.
Speaker 11 (04:40):
So <laugh> I mean, my experience with it, you know, and this really opened my eyes to things, is, um, when I started to run the people who were on my team, you know, there was people who were like me, you know, homeless, uh, substance abuse issues in and outta jail. And then there was also people who were like scientists and lawyers and things like that. And if you're looking at it from the outside at some, you know, it's like you, a couple different classes of people, you know? Yeah. Not everybody's the same, but when we put that uniform on in the morning and we all circled up and stretched, you couldn't tell who was who. Yeah. And, uh, it just, uh, that the playing field became like level. Yep. And, uh, I know that's, that's what that means to me, I would imagine in my experience.
Noor (05:34):
No, it's beautiful. Yeah. That's amazing. Um, thank you for sharing that. I love that that neutrality of like, it reminds me of I'm Muslim. So when there's like a, when people engage in like the pilgrimage to Mecca, everybody has to like, wear the exact same thing with the intention of like, not knowing what someone's social class is, or not knowing what someone's background. It's like everybody in this moment is the same and that's what matters is like human to human. Um, and as a human to human, I'm actually quite terrified of running. Like, I like it actually. How many people run in this room? Oh my god, guys. Oh my God. Okay. So, um, asking for a friend,
Speaker 12 (06:13):
<laugh>,
Noor (06:14):
What do we do if we're terrified to run? And I would say my reasons for fear, I mean, my friend, I mean, my friend's reasons for being afraid about running is like, injury is like that sharp pain in your chest and that breathing, it's like my knees. I don't know. But I wanna hear from somebody who like has gotten over that fear or who got over that fear and is now a regular runner for us. Non-runners.
Speaker 12 (06:40):
I,
Noor (06:55):
You just sound like you were never afraid at first, though. Like, that's the thing. Yeah. Let's get Derek's mic over there. You just sound like you didn't have a fear to get over it. I'm sitting here, I'm like, actually, you know.
Speaker 13 (07:07):
No, I, I think it's literally one of the things that we do is for those that have that fear or those that are differently able Yeah. We start with walking and it's one foot in front of the other. But again, it's harder growing up in New York, uh, you know, we move at such a fast pace, walking is our running. Right. So, wow. But I, I, I think it's just one foot after another. And then find a friend. You can walk and talk. You don't have to use same both. Or Allison, Felix, it, <laugh>, just, you just find your pace.
Noor (07:39):
Thank you. Thank you so much. I would love to know from you, Gabby, like, because running you, you engage with it in such a sacred way. And you, you said you started running 10 years ago. Yes. So like, what, what was the thing, the switch in your brain that was just like, oh, this is something I'm gonna do with my body now.
Speaker 13 (07:59):
<laugh>?
Speaker 14 (07:59):
Well, first of all, I run across the border 26 years ago. <laugh>.
Speaker 13 (08:12):
Okay.
Noor (08:13):
No small feat. So tell us that story when I said, tell me about a run that changed your life. I'm pretty sure that was the answer. We
Speaker 13 (08:20):
Were all looking for <laugh>.
Noor (08:22):
Um, so wait, can you tell us about that
Speaker 13 (08:24):
<laugh>?
Speaker 14 (08:26):
What, but you know, as an immigrant
Speaker 13 (08:29):
<laugh>
Speaker 14 (08:30):
That you had to that. Well, in that moment I was so ignorant. I didn't know that I had to get a visa to get to the States. And my, my family lied to me. They say, oh, you know, just come to the, to Tijuana and I have my six months baby.
Noor (08:47):
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 14 (08:48):
Yeah. So I, I brought, I came with her to Tijuana. I said, don't worry, you're gonna get cross. And they sent this lady that I didn't know, and she's like, oh, Miha, don't worry. Just give it to her. Your daughter's gonna be here, but you need to go across the border. And I said, what? How? Like, don't surprise me with my daughter. Uh, whoa. So now let's say that my daughter has to, to heal her abandonment
Noor (09:13):
<laugh>. Uh, that's where it starts. It's like a dark laugh, guys, <laugh>, we all have a little bit of abandonment issues at some point. Okay. Yeah.
Speaker 14 (09:21):
That, that's where
Noor (09:22):
Her start. Yeah. That's where <laugh> laugh about
Speaker 14 (09:25):
That she didn't see her mom for two weeks.
Noor (09:26):
Wow. Yeah. Two
Speaker 14 (09:28):
Weeks.
Noor (09:28):
Two weeks. How did you, like, what, how did you do that? How did you know?
Speaker 14 (09:32):
Well, the person that I went to, because this is another story. Oh my gosh. <laugh>, because the person that my mom sent to for me to Tijuana, uh, he said, oh yes, I know how to cross people. But he didn't have papers either.
Noor (09:45):
<laugh>, <laugh> we're allowed to laugh. She's laughing at <laugh>.
Speaker 14 (09:51):
Yeah, you're allowed to laugh because I mean, now it's laughable. But in the moment I was like, what? I was so confused. So then he said we had to go through this border. Have you seen the, uh, Mexican border? So we had to jump the fence. Whoa. Once. And then we had to run through the, to the mountains. So in order for the,
Noor (10:14):
You were running, running, running, running. Wow. Do you even, do you know how long you were running for? I don't
Speaker 14 (10:20):
Know. Uh, the first time I remember, uh, it was raining so hard that we run, I don't know how many miles. And then we found out ourselves like running around because it was run, it was raining, so it was muddy. So we just ended up in the end <laugh>? Yes. At the end of the mountain. Whoa. Full of muddy. So I recall that I, I was in San Diego, that's what I was told. So the, the patrols find found us, but I was hiding so good that they found the other guy. And the other guy was telling me, <laugh> like, Davi, you need to come out. And I said, I don't wanna get out. But also in my mind, I was like, how am gonna get to my family? I don't know,
Noor (11:05):
Know what? You were 19, right? Yes. 19 years old. Yes. Wow.
Speaker 14 (11:09):
So I had to come out and they take us back to, to Mexico, and he's like, don't worry, we're gonna try again. And even, and even the police tell me, oh, don't worry, in three hours you can try again.
Noor (11:23):
<laugh>. Oh my God. So you ran again.
Speaker 14 (11:28):
So yeah, it took us like another, so it took me three times she tries to get to the states. Whoa. So the second time, uh, we gathered with another group and we walk in the middle of, uh, the mountains. There was these helicopters looking for immigrants. So I just sit down and start laughing and say, oh my gosh, tag
Noor (11:48):
<laugh>,
Speaker 14 (11:49):
You're tag. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 14 (11:51):
So that was the second time. The third time, that's when I crossed the border. But that time, um, we were gathered with another person that was bringing four people. I was the only women in the, in the group. We had to walk the whole night and we had to hide one day through the day in bushes. We couldn't even, uh, whisper. We had to be quiet. So the second night, we had to wait without food, without, uh, water. Um, the second night we had to wait and they say, no, we won't be able to cross tonight, because they said that it was hot. That means there was a lot of patrols around. Um, so I had to wait for another day. Whoa. And that night we had to, from where we hiding, I just remember that the guy says, you have five seconds to get across to this bridge. That was disgusting water passing. And I don't wanna even sat share anymore. <laugh>. Whoa. Uh, I am jump in a truck because that's when the police was, um, doing this change. So we finally made it to, to that, um, to the truck. And I get to San Diego. And from there, uh, they took me to, um, la until LA my family was able to pay for my rescue, let's say. Wow. So I was able to be released. And this is the circle that I, that I close up is, um,
Speaker 14 (13:24):
Four years ago, um, I took the decision to go, uh, with this organization in San Diego that it's called the Border Angeles. They drop water in the desert. And let's say that I took water to the same mountain that I crossed 26 years ago. It is been healing for me. But the first time, because it's, we have to leave a message in the water. Write something that you feel in your heart. So we made, like the packages that you did, we, we leave food. We had to carry two gallons of water for almost seven miles up to the mountains, or seven miles. And they have different spots. So when the people that cross the border, they can find this food. Wow. And just realizing that they actually, the people actually use those resources. It was fulfill fulfillment for myself and also like healing. Healing. That part you
Noor (14:30):
Passed it on? Yes. Wow.
Speaker 14 (14:33):
Yes.
Noor (14:33):
So an angel passing it on to another angel.
Speaker 14 (14:36):
Oh, thank you.
Noor (14:39):
Thank you for sharing that. I mean, I would love to ask too, because one of the things that you said to me when we talked before this was that you want people to know that, you know, when people think of indigenous people, they think that they are people who used to be on the land. But your, your mission is for people to know, no, indigenous people are still here. Like, we're seeing indigenous people constantly fight land back. Even what we're seeing happening in Palestine. So as an indigenous woman, like making that journey to come here, if you are comfortable sharing, like what did making that journey mean to you? And what does it like, and how do you reflect on that now?
Speaker 14 (15:20):
Well, um, back, back then, I have, I was a single mother. I'm still a single mother, but with more kids. <laugh>.
Speaker 10 (15:29):
<laugh>.
Speaker 14 (15:34):
Sorry.
Speaker 10 (15:35):
<laugh>.
Speaker 14 (15:39):
Well, uh, so by then I was 19 years old. Um, and they always talk, you know, back in our countries, they always say, oh, the American dream. Yeah. They always talk about the American dream. Um, and I say, well, when I, when I have my daughter, I say, well, I'm 19 years old, what am gonna do? Um, so they say, oh, the American dream. And I say, why I don't pursue the American dream. I wanna give my daughter a better life, a better education.
Noor (16:13):
You thought that at 19?
Speaker 14 (16:15):
At 19. And I said, well, the only place that I hear that it's good to find, um, those resources in this space was in the States. So I decided when I was pregnant to come to the States, uh, again without knowing that I need a visa. Um, so I had to work so hard when I came to the States, I, when I get here, 'cause I didn't have the proper, uh, papers. And community sometimes doesn't support you. So it all depends. So I remember the place where I get, um, these people told me, oh, don't get out of the house because immigration is gonna come for you. But because I'm a rebel, I'll say, oh no, I need to leave. I need to work. So, uh, the best that I do, I start cooking different plates and I start pushing. So I was one of the vendors, the street vendors.
Speaker 14 (17:20):
I don't know if you've ever been in la Have you seen industry vendors? So I was one of them. And that's why I fight for them too. Um, so I was pushing my car with different plates of different, uh, types of food and pulling my stroller with my six months baby. Wow. Um, that, that was, uh, a hard time, but I made it and let, and I can say that I had the privilege to be in this panel. I had the privilege to run. And I have the privilege to say that yes, I'm living the American dream, not only me, but also my kids have a different, uh, different ways of living. Way, way different than I had.
Speaker 10 (18:12):
Thank you.
Noor (18:16):
I'd love to open it up to if anybody has any questions for any of the panelists, and then we can kind of do some community mingling. We can wrap Any questions, any thoughts, any confessions? Amazing. Yeah. I'll make
Speaker 11 (18:34):
Up a question.
Noor (18:35):
You wanna make one up? I'm gonna make one up. Do you wait?
Speaker 11 (18:40):
Um, yeah. My name's Izzy. I'm, uh, uh, with Connor here. We're from Portland, Oregon and we're with, uh, non-profits supported by, uh, on called, uh, go the distance. We take people in drug and alcohol treatment centers running, and we do exactly what happened to you. So when you're sharing your story, I can be right there with you because we also do that. We go up, we give them hugs, thanks to Lauren and the staff. You know, we, we provide them the shoes and we do the incentive, you know, because a lot of these guys, they don't wanna run, you know, but they want the shoes. And so it gets them out of the treatment center and it begins the journey to create healthier, um, choices. Right? Hundred percent. And then, and then what we do is we encourage movement. Not just, it's not just, uh, running like very fast or anything, but it's just about getting started.
Speaker 11 (19:35):
It's about making a decision. Right. And I think all of us have made a decision Right. To better our lives, you know? Um, and I, I get such strength from hearing all, uh, four of you, all of us. And I know there's many here in the audience too, because, um, seven years ago, you know, I was injecting crystal meth into my body and you know, I was where you were. And now I'm sitting here with these clothes on these new shoes and I'm, I'm having breakfast with the people here on the panel and you know, and I have people like this amazing, um, on supporting us. How the did this happen? You know? It's just so, it just blows, excuse my language. It just blows my mind. And I, I never under, I think I think that some of it has to do with finding your authentic self.
Speaker 11 (20:30):
And in order to be successful, but you're doing, you have to be your authentic self. 'cause you cannot a bullshitter. Yeah. You cannot do it. And if, and for me, I'm gay and it took me so long to, I'm even, even right now, that was hard to say, you know? Uh, it's obvious to everybody else, <laugh>, but to me it's very difficult. Right. I'm brown, I'm Mexican, I don't speak Spanish, I'm gay. It's been very hard. I'm a drug addict in recovery, you know. And so finding my authentic self and being here with you all has opened my mind. I was a waiter all my life. And now that I am embarking and going onto this journey with all of you and taking your strength and hearing your stories, I think sharing the stories like you did helps people like us. Right. Get to where you are. 'cause you guys are really amazing and I think we're all amazing and I'm grateful to be here. I don't know, what's your name? There wasn't really a question in there, <laugh>, but Perfect. I just like holding this mic. <laugh>
Noor (21:35):
<laugh>, thank you for sharing. I'll
Speaker 11 (21:39):
Give it back now. Thank you.
Noor (21:42):
That was beautiful. Anyone else? Yeah. Let, let's pass please. Police. No, no, no. We need, we need, you gotta have a mic. We
Speaker 11 (21:51):
Need it for the podcast.
Noor (21:55):
Give us your name too, please. Cool.
Speaker 12 (21:58):
Oh, yo, what's up? I'm Adam from the on team here. Uh, this question goes to all three y'all. Uh, what is your North Star? So maybe in the short term it's making a gym for non-binary people, but in, you know, 10, 20 years. What's the, is there something that's driving each one of you guys in terms of big goals?
Noor (22:16):
Thank you, Adam, for giving us our closing question of the night. What a collaborative event. I feel like every single person here. Okay. Sen, what is your North star?
Speaker 13 (22:30):
Ooh. Um, well, I want to provide, uh, safe spaces for the community throughout the Netherlands. So not only just Amsterdam, because like, yeah, Amsterdam is already a safer space. Um, so definitely wanna do that. And, uh, I want to do more events over a nonprofit as well. So I also wanna do more events with, um, minorities within the minority of being. Um, so we started doing, um, events with refugees, um, uh, where we provide them like a safe space to work out. Um, and I just wanna, I wanna e explore that world of what we can do and, uh, how we can Yeah. Help even more people, because sports is fun. Like, it's, yeah, <laugh>, stay very quiet for
Noor (23:33):
<laugh>. We're like, do we all agree with that? <laugh>?
Speaker 13 (23:39):
No. Sports is fun. You know, like, and, and, and you want people to enjoy that and not, not in ways to like achieve a certain goal. So we say we celebrate each body and you don't come to our gym to lose weight or to get a six pack or, and if that's truly what you want, then of course we'll help. But, and we'll support. But like, no, we just want you to be happy and to enjoy and to have a great time. So like, I think that's, so it's basically what we do, but then just on a larger scale and with way more people and four more people.
Noor (24:17):
Thank you. Thank you, Sam.
Speaker 14 (24:21):
Before I answer the last question I wanna share with Nor <laugh>, uh, that because you're afraid of running, do it. Dare yourself to do it. <laugh>. That's how you're gonna know what it's out in the other side or your fear. Do it.
Noor (24:44):
Okay. I'm I'm not gonna cry <laugh>, it's just running.
Speaker 14 (24:47):
No, that you can cry. I mean, I cry so, so many times when I'm running, especially
Noor (24:54):
I'm guys,
Speaker 14 (24:56):
So yes, do it. Thank you. Um, how I see myself is, um, as long as I can move my body, it doesn't matter. The crazy girls running over there. Like, I, like, I'm 45 years old and I'm so proud of my age because I've been living beautifully and now I'm passing on to gen my other generation, like my son is running track and he, um, and we have a date. So Wednesdays we go to our running group community in Boyle Heights, bridge Runners. Uh, and he's, and that's our date, mom and daughter day. So we run together and we've been running and I was trying to get him for the 5K new year so he can run and I, and he will be proud. But, um, but the, uh, the race is sold out so I can get him <laugh>.
Noor (25:51):
That was like, if anybody here can get a plugin, <laugh>, that was
Speaker 14 (25:55):
No, no, no, no. Um, but I'm happy because we're passing this through generations. Like now my son sees me and ask me questions like, mom, how, how can I, how can I do this? Um, I was asked two weeks ago to mentor two, two people that are gonna run their first marathon in March. That's gonna be their LA marathon. So I'm happy and glad and honored to share what I learned all these years in the running community also, I've been give giving advices to, to SRLA students, uh, and body mechanics. Like how can you run to run to pro to prevent, um, injuries, uh, uh, how to look for shoes for running. Like what is the proper shoes for you? It depends on how your gate and everything. So I've, as long as I can move, I will be running and praying and praying and one day I can do it. I'll be there supporting everyone that, that will moving their body.
Noor (27:02):
Thank you. Gabby. Derek, north Star.
Speaker 11 (27:07):
This is a deep question. Uh, I mean, besides like, wanting to live in a house and like being very good at my craft and all that stuff as a human being. Uh, so I was incarcerated this one time, right? Well, of many times this one time of many times. And, uh, there was this guy I did not get along with at all. His name was Hassan, right? And, uh, he said to me like, I was, I was leaving in a couple days. I was on short time. He was like, he was like, I need to speak with you. And I was like, oh, I, I thought we were gonna fight. And, uh, <laugh>, he was just like, uh, he, because I had been reading and writing during that particular bid, but he was like, uh, Mr. Drescher, you're not the same, uh, man that walked in here.
Speaker 11 (27:54):
You know, uh, you've changed. And I'll never forget any. And I looked at him, he just, and he goes, you changed, do you know that? And I, and then he goes, uh, I sincerely hope so. And, uh, he, I started to walk away from him and he goes, don't worry, you're gonna find your people well. And, uh, if I can at least get that message out to people who are going through something similar to what I've went through, even if they hate me, you know, if they could just hear what I gotta say and then maybe never speak to me again. If they could find their people too as a human, that would be my goal, I guess. But yeah, that's it. That's
Noor (28:32):
Beautiful. Thank you. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Yeah, go for it. Yeah,
Speaker 13 (28:40):
One moment, please. Send. Yeah. So within like the world today, like transgender people are having a really difficult time, uh, especially also within sports. Um, and I'm not gonna tell you what to do or whatever, but I am want to ask you if you can like, take a moment this week doesn't need to be today, but this week to look up who is fighting for the trans community and what you can do to support them. Um, because it's, it's, it's a difficult battle and it's, it's the trans community is all over the world. So that, that's it.
Noor (29:23):
Thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Every single one of you for showing up for yourselves for this community. Thank you Adam for that final question. Um, it's been so beautiful being here. I think we have like, uh, some time if people wanna mingle and make a friend. 'cause this is like a really, really solid group of people, guys. Like, I know a lot of people here and they're all amazing. So thank you all so much. I'm n Judy at your service.