Well, I guess whatever you look for, you'll find. Last week, I blogged about how I was looking for ways to incorporate more music into my life and my career and I got what I was looking for. Urban Voodoo, a Long Beach City College Student who is active in his community is using the power of words and music to help people heal through Hip-Hop and spoken word. Here's a recent video he posted on YouTube. Thinking of Urban Voodoo and the power of words and music helped me to kick it up a notch when I was teaching Helping and Listening Skills class. I decided that since I know communication is powerful and since I know I am the leader of my classroom, maybe I should use that power wisely. So, I took a risk. I decided to practice what I preach, in front of a live audience. You really had to be there to "get it" but let's just say I played two music videos in class as part of a lesson called, "How much can you tell about a person by looking at them." I played the Dead Kennedy's video (California Uber Alles) and scrolled the lyrics then played Grandmaster Flash doing The Message and scrolled the lyrics. Then I showed photos from my punk rock teenage years. The point I was trying to make is that many times we look at people and we make snapshot decisions about them based on how they look NOW and we don't even listen to hear what's going on beneath the surface. The other point I've been drilling in people's minds each week is that 70-90% of communication is non-verbal. I explained that the clothing and music a person chooses can tell you a lot about them, even if they won't open their mouth and speak one word to you. At 16, that was me. I wanted desperately to speak out about the domestic violence and child abuse that went on in my home routinely but I couldn't speak. So, I spoke by cutting off all my hair, by running away and by listening to recordings of people who WERE brave enough to speak. Now, I'm brave enough to speak and I have a place to do it at. Don't you think I should put it to good use? I believe my job is to help my students to help others in the most impactful way possible and if I have any knowledge about that, whether it's personal or professional, it is my duty to make it available but not my call what other people do with the information. Ah, but you must maintain a balance between speaking and listening. In fact, I think listening is more valuable than speaking because it is when you listen that you learn. This video reminded me of the beauty that occurs when a group of people are willing to share their voice with each other and the world. Speaking can be a way to personal transformation and a way to liberate others. If you want to become a transformative speaker and leader, check out Toastmasters International. Along the lines of using your voice to transform yourself and others, Agape Toastmasters had it's 30th Anniversary celebration on Sunday, April 3 at Industry Cafe and Jazz.  Linda Saito sang for us. It was such a joyous occasion to see a diversity of people all mixing and mingling together, sharing their voices, sharing food and sharing music. In my opinion, this is the true zest of life. For more information about Agape Toastmasters, visit their website or go to their YouTube channel.

From Toastmasters/ Speaking