Unknown Speaker  0:09  
This recording is an offering of Networks for Training and Development's Online University.

Shauna Roman  0:34  
Good evening, welcome to Networks' Healing Circle Call. June 15 2020. First, I ask that you share with me three deep breaths, breathing in through your nose, out through your mouth. Second one, in through your nose, out through your mouth. And the last one, in through your nose, out through your mouth.

Shauna Roman  1:20  
Good evening everyone. My name is Shauna Roman. I am Executive Director with Networks for Training and Development and so pleased to be a part of this evening's Healing Circle Call. For the purposes of this call, I like to describe myself as a deep thinking introvert. I try to focus on gratitude as much as possible. And given the current events and social injustices taking place in our world right now. I have a slow burning fire inside: embers of anger, frustration and sadness. At the end of the day, however, I am an eternal optimist. To say these are troubling times is an understatement. I welcome you into this space to take part in this brief moment with me.

Shauna Roman  2:22  
There are three things that I'm asking all of us: be kind, love and do whatever we can to stay the course. I'll repeat that. Be kind, love one another, and stay the course. 

Shauna Roman  2:44  
One of my favorite poems of all time is "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou. And it reads:

Shauna Roman  2:52  
"A free bird leaps on the back of the wind and floats downstream till the current ends and dips his wing in the orange sun rays, and dares to claim the sky. But a bird that stalks down his narrow cage can seldom see through his bars of rage. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied, so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom. The free bird thinks of another breeze, and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own. A caged bird stands on the grave of dreams, his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream. His wings are clipped and his feet are tied, so he opens his throat to sing. The caged bird sings with a fearful trill of things unknown but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom."

Shauna Roman  4:31  
On May 25, 2020. Minneapolis police officers arrested George Floyd, a 46 year old black man, after a convenience store employee called 911 and told the police that Mr. Floyd had bought cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. 17 minutes after the first squad car arrived at the scene, Mr. Floyd was unconscious and pinned beneath police officer Derek Chauvin, showing no signs of life. Video footage confirms that Mr. Floyd was pressed on the neck under the knee of this Minneapolis police officer for eight minutes 46 seconds. In his final breath, Mr. Floyd called for his deceased mother. In solidarity of our world's amplified response to end racial inequality, I ask that you join me for a moment of silent meditation lasting eight minutes 46 seconds, starting now.

Unknown Speaker  5:46  
[Silence for 8:46]

Shauna Roman  14:39  
Thank you. Once again a reminder to us all: be kind, love one another and stay the course. To close, I'll leave you with the following quote. Another one of my heroes or "sheroes", Helen Keller: "Alone, we can do so little. Together, we can do so much."

Unknown Speaker  15:09  
[Segment of the song, "A Change is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke plays] Lyrics: Lor', there been time that I thought I couldn't last for long, But now I think I'm able to carry on,  [Chorus] It's been a long, a long time comin', but I know a change gon' come Oh, yes it will....

Transcribed by https://otter.ai