i will introduce tyrone hopper, a graduate from the father alfred center, st.te with a ba in criminal justice. [ applause ] tyrone freelances as an interpreter in spanish including on-call assignments for the united nations, and he expects to be certified in mandarin next year. please welcome tyrone. [ applause ] >> good afternoon everybody. i have to say i'm a bit overwhelmed today to be sharing the same stage with nancy pelosi, ed lee, susan coretand to look out here and see this sea of humanity and have people cheering for me. [ applause ] i'm overwhelmed and i'm humbled because just four years, nine months and six days ago, i was smoking crack. that is right. i was a drug addict. and almost five years later, here i am. miracles do happen! [ applause ] 60 years ago father alfred had a vision. it started with his compassion for those in need. the vision was and still is for those in need to come out of poverty, and to thrive. this vision since 1950 has been giving those in need the natural and the spiritual food that they need in order to thrive. i am now thr