[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One evening,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after watching the nightly news\Nwith my then-five-year-old son,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he asked me a question
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought I would have\Na ton of time to answer.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought the complicated questions\Ntypically came at eight or nine years old,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but my son looked me in the eyes\Nwhile I was tucking him in,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with a very straight face he asked me,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Daddy, why did you go to jail?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My wife and I often\Nthought about this moment.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We knew this question was coming,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we wanted to handle it well,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that night I had a question to answer.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I decided to tell my son\Nhow I ended up going to prison
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I was just a 15-year old kid.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This picture was taken\Nwhen I was 14 years old.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's my mom,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my sister,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that cute little baby,\Nthat's my niece.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She's 23 now, and it drives me crazy
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every time I think about\Nhow old I'm getting.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was the last photo that I took
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just a few weeks before I made\Nthe worst decision of my life.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A friend of mine and I,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we approached a man sleeping in his car,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,pulled out a gun,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,demanded the keys to his car,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and sped off.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That decision landed me\Nin front of a judge
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my mom and my sister\Nstanding just a few feet behind me
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as they listened to me get sentenced
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to eight years in adult\Nmaximum security prisons.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the next family photo\Nthat I took with my mom,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this time it was taken\Nin the prison visiting room.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now don't let the waterfalls and the trees
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and all that stuff\Nin the background fool you.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was one of the hardest\Ntimes of my life.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, for the first two years,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I battled depression
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by living in denial\Nabout my prison sentence.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would commonly say things to my mom
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, "I mean, Ma, I know you don't think
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that this judge is really\Ngoing to keep us here through Christmas."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, Valentine's Day.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, the last day of school.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then, the first day of school.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And on and on.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I promised my mom
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that one day someone would see\Nthat I was drowning in those cells,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that someone would tell us
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we could breathe again
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that they just wanted\Nto teach me a hard lesson.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one day, as I'm walking\Naround the prison rec yard
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my friend Danny B, I asked him,\N"How long have you been here?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he told me that he\Nhad already served 31 years.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My palms immediately got sweaty,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,heart dropped down to my toes,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it hit me like a ton of bricks,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because that's the moment when I realized
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I would have to serve\Nall eight of my years.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, the story of going\Nto prison as a teenager
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not an uncommon one,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but for my family,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this was the most tragic thing\Nthat had happened in our lives.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I missed my family terribly,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just like every other teenager,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just wanted to open up\Ngifts on Christmas morning
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and graduate from high school\Nwith my friends.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because of the intense\Nsecurity in prisons,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,internet access is limited.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no easy emailing,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,no texting,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and definitely no social media.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This means that the meaningful moments,\Nlike prom night or college graduation
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or the tons of free content\Nthat you and I digest every day,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,very seldom gets shared with the cousin,\Nsibling or best friend in prison.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I became very dark.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My childhood and the dreams of it,\Nthey disappeared.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And those slamming steel doors
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,clanking shut every night\Nin the prison housing unit,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they forced me to grow up fast.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I can tell you firsthand
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that there is something\Nabout the violent cards of prison
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that completely cripple hope.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I even tried to push my mom away
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I didn't want her to be subject\Nto the collect calls
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the eight-hour drives\Nfor the one-hour visits,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,those horrible body cavity searches
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that she would experience\Ncoming into the prison visiting room.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But as many of you parents\Nhere know tonight
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can't stop a mother's love.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what did my mom do?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She made a promise while sitting\Nin a prison visiting room.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She promised that she would\Nwrite me a letter or send me a picture
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,every day from that day forward\Nuntil I came home.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had six years left to do on a sentence,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our lives were completely\Ncrumbling around us,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here comes this happy-go-lucky lady
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,prancing into a prison visiting room\Nlike I'm in summer camp
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a new plan to send me\Na bunch of pictures.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Such an interesting time.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Little did I know
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would be my mom's letters\Nthat saved my life.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My mom would take\Npictures of a cheeseburger
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or a mattress at a department store
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and she would send them to me\Nalong with a letter with a promise
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that one day I would enjoy\Na fat juicy burger
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or sleep on a comfortable bed.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My mom assured me\Nthat there was life after prison.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In fact, my best friends
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,began living vicariously\Nthrough my mom's letters and photos,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,giving an entire prison unit a glimpse\Ninto what was happening in the world.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After eight years of nightmares\Nof prison never ending,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,being dehumanized,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,strip-searched,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,watching people get wheeled\Ndown the prison walkway in body bags,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was finally released.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I bet you can't guess
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was there to pick me up\Nthat cold morning in February.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,OK, you guessed it, my sister and my mom.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The years that we prayed for\Nwere finally in front of us,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the pain of living\Nbehind bars was behind us.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or so we thought.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like me, most people in prison\Nare coming home one day,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and unlike me,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,many don't have the consistent support\Nduring and after incarceration that I had.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The struggle is real,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and even I struggled to find a job\Nwhen I came home.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Each application that I filled out\Nfrom grocery stores to mortgage companies
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to fashion retail,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they all included the same question,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,glowing, pulsating,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,waiting for me to add my check:
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Have you ever been\Nconvicted of a felony?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, to be honest,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew that this moment was coming.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I knew I would have to face this issue.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I leveraged the mental toughness\Nthat I build while going through prison,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but after being declined for over 40 jobs,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even I began to feel deflated.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I thought that I would get my life back
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that all those things were behind me\Nand things would start looking up,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that decision that I made\Nwhen I was 15-year-old kid
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,continued to haunt me\Neven up until that moment.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But while on a job hunt,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one day I ran across an application\Nthat asked the question,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but this time it was worded\Na little differently.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This time the question asked,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Have you been convicted of a felony\Nwithin the last seven years?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After doing an eight-year\Nprison sentence (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I could honestly say that my conviction\Nwas over seven years ago.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was able to answer that question\Nwith an honest "no,"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and finally I landed my first job.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was the guy who mixed paint\Nat the paint store,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and eventually customers\Nwould come into the store
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they would ask me,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Hey Marcus, how much do you charge\Nto paint my kitchen?"
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, Ms. Johnson,\Nwe don't paint kitchens,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we sell you the paint\Nso you can paint your own kitchen."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A lightbulb went off,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I launched a painting company\Nthat became the conduit
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the customers in the paint store
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the painters\Nwho needed consistent work.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After a year or so,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I left that paint store,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we grew our contracting company,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and since then I have hired\Ntons of other returning citizens.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I stand today with a felony,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and just like millions of others\Naround the country
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who also have that F on their chest\Nthat represents felony,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just as my mom promised me many years ago,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wanted to show them\Nthat there was still life after prison.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I started living my best life,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I couldn't believe\Nthat I was living on a cloud.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But my friends, the same ones\NI grew up with in those cells,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they would call me and constantly ask for\Npictures of this new life I was living.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I traveled, they wanted pictures.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When I got married, they wanted pictures.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I didn't have the time\Nor the bandwidth to sit and write a letter
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or print pictures from my phone.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would commonly tell them,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Dude, if I could just text you,\Nmy life would be so much easier."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And after searching the app stores\Nfor a solution to this problem
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and not being able to find one,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we launched Flikshop.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I kid you not,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,did you know that\Nthe prison phone business
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,created a billion-dollar industry?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of these businesses are predatory,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so we knew we had to figure out\Nhow to disrupt this space.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Flikshop allows our family members\Nto take a picture, add some quick text,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,press send, and for 99 cents,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we print that picture and text\Non a real, tangible post card
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and mail it directly to any person\Nin any cell anywhere in the country.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are millions of families\Nthat are becoming torn apart
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply because they don't have\Nthe time to write a letter,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,figure out how to print\Na photo from their phone,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,make a store run to go buy\Na box of envelopes,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then to the post office\Nto go buy stamps.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We started by connecting 50 families
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then 100 families,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then 500 families,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and now today I am proud to say
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we've connected over 140,000 families
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,around the country.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We even commonly receive mail\Nin my office overflowing my desk
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from people in prison
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Jason.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Jason says, "I got about\N15 postcards last night
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of so many words of motivation
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I had to write to you\Nand just say thank you."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or George, who writes,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Today I received about six postcards\Nwith so much love. ...
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I do not know where this roof\Nof love has come from."
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I cannot believe how blessed I am
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to sometimes be able to meet a child
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who sends Flikshop postcards\Nto their incarcerated parents.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes, I'm able to even\Ngo to the White House
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and address the nation and talk about\Nthe need for criminal justice reform.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this story is just incredible for me\Nbecause this wasn't always my life.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I remember very vividly living\Nin a six-foot-by-nine-foot cell
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a man that was 22 years old\Nand there to serve life plus 43 years,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and thinking in my head\Nwhile I'm sitting in that bunk
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that together we probably\Nwould die in those cells.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well I know that our era\Nof mass incarceration
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the things that we see on the news\Ndealing with people going to prison
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a huge societal issue
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we all have\Nto band together to help solve,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I am confident
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that if we are very intentional\Nabout building family connections
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and environments where\Nthey are needed the most,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then this is a big step\Nin the right direction.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I absolutely love this stage of my life,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this chapter,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where I'm standing right now,
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but you know who is having\Nway more fun than me at this stage?
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My mom.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I love you, Ma. Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,9:59:59.99,9:59:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)