Today I hope, tomorror I act in the name of love

 Tomorrow my journey of 2 million steps begins. Today it's get the hair cut and go scout the first 10 miles in Eastern Connecticut, pray deeply, and work on a million preparations.
George Bernard Shaw said: "Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got a hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it onto future generations."
My walk to DC is my way of lighting this candle of hope as brightly as possible for children and their teachers.
They inspire me,
They compel me to action,
They lift me,
For they are the candles lighting my path all along the way,
Today I hope,
Tomorrow I act.
Walking to DC,
Jesse

PS, if you want to know what song I am listening today? It's U2's "In The Name of Love"
https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A0LEVzqJJnhV43IA2vhXNyoA;_ylc=X1MDMjc2NjY3OQRfcgMyBGZyA2FhcGx3BGdwcmlkA3E1dmpic1AxUU1lZEJWSTVNYXdSNUEEbl9yc2x0AzAEbl9zdWdnAzEEb3JpZ2luA3NlYXJjaC55YWhvby5jb20EcG9zAzAEcHFzdHIDBHBxc3RybAMEcXN0cmwDMjQEcXVlcnkDdHViZSBpbiB0aGUgbmFtZSBvZiBsb3ZlBHRfc3RtcAMxNDMzOTM4NzY4?p=tube+in+the+name+of+love&fr2=sb-top-search&fr=aaplw

One more day

I am almost one day out from my walk to DC. Everyday is busy at this point, between work, planning multiple events with organizers across states, and focusing in on making sense of Google maps that are not always helpful. But, it is a good kind of good, lots of excitement, calls and emails from people who are planning to meet me on the walk.
It's all-good, but at times it can be a little overwhelming. Sometimes it can be lonely, and sometimes to be honest it can be scary. I start thinking how the heck did you get yourself into this Jesse. Then I remember that everything I know professionally indicates these education reforms are failures. I find myself praying often on my walks, asking for strength and courage. Saying Dear Lord make it matter. Please make it matter.
Then like an answer to my prayers:
Someone post a positive comment on Facebook about the walk, a simple "You go Jesse". Every Facebook like gives me hope, every Go Fund Me contribution lifts me.
A School of Education Dean saying I am going to walk the whole 10 miles with you on Thursday your first day empowers me.
Manchester's Rev Josh Pawelek saying I want to walk with you on Monday reminds me I am not alone.
A retired couple from Kansas calling to say we are planning to walk with you in Philadelphia, and are walking with you again in DC.
Dr. Ricardo Rosa from Dartmouth calls to say I am walking with you everyday in New York inspires me.
Every time I grow weary someone reaches out. A few kind words refreshes me, empowers me, inspires me, moves me, and compels me to walk.
Finally just before I put my head down someone like Terrance Moore a retired teacher from NJ helping to organize our Newark event sends me a YouTube link to "This school is your school, this school is my school
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ4FztzKc3E >
Then like Saint George that Knight who fought the good fight everyday, fell to the ground, but always rose up renewed and ready to go again.
I am walking for:
Our children,
Our Parents,
Our teachers,
Our schools,
Our communities,
For justice not just tests, and
I never walk alone.
Thank you,
Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you want to know what song I was listening to on my walk today...It's one more day from Les Miserables > https://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AirSAQZv63E7A5oZfwtpjsKbvZx4?fr=yfp-t-901-s&toggle=1&fp=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8&p=one%20more%20day%20les%20miserables <

I am no one, I am everyone, I am you

5 days out from my walk to DC, and this boy is ready and able to carry this load for our children, parents, teachers, and our public schools.

I am a man on a mission,

A man with a heart full of hope,

A man inspired by the people,

A loving father,

A loving husband,

A loving teacher,
A man of the people and for the people.

I am a man on fire,

Inspired by:

That prophet Moses who walked for 40 years to lead his people to the promise land,

A student of American history,
A history of two great nations within a nation that walked for the survival of their nations, inspired by Cherokee people who walked a Trial of Tears, and

The Navajo People who walked that Long Walk.

A history of those Selma Bridge Crossers who walked for the right to vote,
I burn with the inspiration of all those who came before me.

Call me a dreamer, inspired by another Dreamer Martin Luther King who walked a nation out of Jim Crow,

A proud believer in the power of walking for just causes,

A student of labor's Cesar Chavez 340 mile walk to Sacramento,
I am a walking man on a quest to save our public schools, our children, and our teachers.

I am one of you,
I do not dine with CEOs,
I do not play golf with Senators and members of Congress,
No governor calls me,
The White House does not know my name,
I owe no alliance to the K-Street Lobbyists,
I know no billionaires,
I am own by no one, 
I am no one,
But I am everyone.

Tell it on every street corner,
Ring every bell, this walking man refuses to listen to these Education Deformers who have sold our children into the bondage of profiteers.

Tell them I am fortified with the scripture of Amos" Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps."

Tell them I am empowered by Micah 6:8 "He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Our children are not their profits,

Our public schools are not for sale,

Our teachers are not their pawns of oppression,

Silence and apathy are not the pillars of democracy, but the enemies of a free people,

I can hear Dr. Martin Luther King calling to us, reminding us,

‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream" 

Can't you feel Martin saying my people you are a mighty stream of righteousness rolling?

Come walk with me brothers and sisters,

Jesse The Walking Man Turner

If you like to know what this Walking Man is listening to on his morning walk, it's Lean On Me by Playing for change around the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiouJsnYytI