: (1/3) Today at the I MATTER town hall meeting approximately 150 young men, 8th - 12th grade, gathered at Brooklyn College. I began the session charging each of them to declare their significance every single day because despite this day and time when their lives are not often valued they must speak into existence that they AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL, APPRECIATED, and LOVED! Public Advocate Letitia James gave the Keynote address, emphasizing the importance of making sound and healthy choices to avoid negative consequences. She highlighted the investment that has been made in young men of color entering the prison system as oppose to graduating from an education institution. We concluded with a group discussion facilitated by Aaron, Lisa, James, and Donsha, youth counselors at Christian Cultural Center. They engaged the youth in a candid and interactive conversation that explored the definition of relationships, trust, consent, and establishing boundaries with the opposite sex. We don't need to wait for anyone to give us permission to become a village that guides our youth, because WE ARE THE VILLAGE! In many of our communities babies are raising babies and our children are making unhealthy decisions. I'm not here to judge, but to educate our future. We must deposit the seeds of greatness into our young men and show them that they indeed MATTER! #theLopezEffect #OccupySchools #SoulSISS #TeachersMatter #RelationshipGoals #BKLYNCombine