29 October 2016, Orlando, Florida, USA
Thank you Marlio and Wilfred for that very nice introduction! You are two great friends and examples of the awesome Catalysts we have in Colorado's thirteen chapters of The Arc.
Thank you all for this great honor. I am humbled to be in the company of this evening's other awardees and even more to follow in the sure steps of last year's advocacy recipient, Adonis Reddick.
While many of us here did not know Adonis, certainly he lives on, tonight and every day in the hearts of those who did and those who will be touched by his service and his story. He lives in the mission of each of us who call ourselves “advocates” and service providers. He lives on in us as a joyful and better angel. Adonis did his job and we must continue to do ours, as best we can, while we can, for our time to do so is, simply... unpredictable.
While you are here to help honor me, you should know that I am here to honor you. The work you do, the commitment you bring, the love you show to your community members.
Thanks to your work, more and more People with developmental challenges are doing wonderfully ordinary things, each and every day. Our future is brighter than ever as we work together to raise our standards of healthcare, our networks of social supports, our educational and workplace opportunities, and our rightful place in communities of our choosing.
My path to a brighter future has not been, is not now, and will not in the future be "easy." BUT I know that I am not alone as I continue to work hard to be the kind of person we all want to welcome into our schools, our businesses, our places of worship and our neighborhoods all across the country and indeed, around world.
I am here not as a singular “winner” of an award, but as a representative for many millions in the US and around the world. I appreciate this recognition of what my supportive family and friends and I do to advocate for others. We try to live in the spirit of John Wesley who said:
“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.”
Now, that is not always easy or achievable, but always important and worthy of our best efforts. I am here because someone believed in me, in my abilities, my potential, my humanity, and my right to not only exist, but flourish … as Me.
Imagine how much better our entire world would be if every community was a community of Believers. Imagine!
IF it is possible – and we must believe it to be as possible as it is necessary – then we should strive to be catalysts for not just change, but for a belief in… love. Yes, “catalysts for love.“ Imagine that!
Imagine if we were catalysts for a love that fosters sharing over scarcity and greed, help instead of hindrance, justice instead of retribution, clear-eyed understanding instead of blind-hate, war, abuse, neglect, and indifference. Imagine... that we can do more, and do it better, because we have love in our hearts, warmth in our embraces, compassion in our words, kindness in our eyes and smiles on our faces.
You are here because you are people with great heart and commitment, who on a daily basis give service to others in need of supports, respect, kindness, compassion, fellowship and community. You are great “catalysts” because, even without a cape, sword or shield, you wield a hero's heart, a believing human heart.
SO, TONIGHT, let's celebrate the human catalysts within us and around us, in this room and those still out in the community. AND TOMORROW (or maybe Monday), let's get up, go back out and with humble hearts, be courageous and committed, believing and loving in those small moments that add up to creating greater lives for our family, friends, and neighbors, and clients.
Let's imagine that. Let's Believe in that. Then... let's go do it.
Thank you.
You can find out more about Connor at his website.
