[Intro music]For the poet who writes haikus in the fall, who chiseled stories on stone walls. For the deaf woman who learned how to speak with her hands. For Africans who celebrate life through tribal dance. And for the piano player who strokes keys of musical romance. For the award-winning movie producer. For the ghost of the internet and its billions of users. To the man behind the lens of his camera. Without you, I’d have to say a thousand words instead. A thousand words are in my head, but words that I never said will never be missed. Remain silent and history never unfurls. A message never delivered can change the world. What if Martin Luther King never gave his speech? What if a pastor chose not to preach? What if you drove and no signs guided the streets? What if music didn’t play through the radio? And what if you turned on the TV and the news didn’t show? Communication is essential. Communicators, we push the agenda. We shed light on things that’s off site. And we start conversations that move people across nations. Good afternoon, my name is Roland Walker and I am a part of the 2013 class of Karel Fellows. There are five others—thank you. Thank you, thank you. There are five others who will be speaking with you during the conference, five other Karel Fellows. We all took the journey to Washington, D.C. last summer and worked in communications with organizations within the nonprofit roundtable of Greater Washington. I heard about frank in a public interest communication course at the University of Florida. One day Mr. Andy Burness came down and spoke with our class about the practicality and growth of the field. And right away I was excited, I was really in tune. I was getting the message he was saying. And on top of that, my father tells me that I speak so much that I should make a career from it.Communication is the root of social change. It provides the foundation, direction, and connections for programs, organizations, and communities. Although communication is only the first step in the development of social change, it is the most important step. I was taught the power of storytelling in the public interest course. We are emotional beings, so others’ stories move us. Other people’s triumphs inspire us. Their pain breaks us down. Their sadness brings a tear to our eyes. And their smiles bring a smile to our faces. So over the summer, I used storytelling and strategic communication to connect my host organization, DC Scores, to its supporters and individuals affected by its mission. DC Scores helps children through soccer, poetry, and service learning in afterschool programs and summer camps. So over the summer I wrote a blog series, helped manage Twitter accounts and Instagram accounts, made a few videos, and sat in a few board meetings. And every week I documented what the kids were doing and how they were learning to work together as a team. The blog series focused on the power of relationships and teamwork. We would go out into the field and take field trips to different museums, monuments, and things of that nature. I would get those venues’ handles so I could let them know that DC Scores was here and that the kids really enjoyed themselves. Writing these children’s stories, photographing these priceless moments, and recording their overall experience allowed donors, parents, activists, supporters, and other organizations to share joy with the kids. And over the summer, I witnessed how communication can speak life into a soul that seems lost. I interacted with hundreds of kids and adults. One child stood out the most to me, and his name is Jamel. On the first take—Jamel, if you really met him, and this picture doesn’t show it—but if you really met him… He’s this over-energetic, off-the-wall, problematic kid. And it was like every single day I remember going into the camp saying: slow down Jamel, be quiet Jamel, you are setting a bad example for your peers. His behavior was such an issue that the counselors had to conduct a meeting to understand how to handle him better. In the meeting, it was brought up that he wanted to win the Camper of the Day award. This award was given to a camper who showed obedience, leadership, and good behavior. So obviously there was some debate on the integrity of giving him the award. But after we reached agreement, Jamel received a patch — a red patch — that read “Leadership.” And the next day, it was instantaneous. His whole demeanor changed. He was helpful, he listened to directions, and he was much calmer. Was it because of the patch? A simple patch that might have cost 25 cents? I don’t think so. I think it’s what the patch represented. The message it represented. It told him he was a leader. It spoke to him and gave him a new standard for himself. A new vision. New goals. Because communication has a special appeal. It can speak life into the world and make the impossible real. With my voice, I can move millions, motivate timid souls, and inspire those who will reach mile-high goals. Communication can free the captive mind, connect the deaf to the blind. Bring joy to a rainy day and place you next to me even if you are miles away. So tell your story wherever you go, in any venue. The man or woman sitting next to you will know something you don’t know. So let’s grow in our decisions. Let’s glue humanitarian visions. And then connect those visions to reality, because everyone needs to be heard. Everyone needs to be heard because we are the world. I thank you guys for listening. I appreciate everything that frank has done for me. I look forward to the opportunities it will present to me in the future. And I hope you enjoy the rest of the gathering. Thank you.[Outro music]