Who do you need to show up for? Les Thomas Sr. had a challenging childhood and grew up without a blueprint for a good father and husband. He got into some trouble—but his mother always believed in his potential over his problems.
When Les started his own family, he was not a great father at first. It hit him when his kids were recalling their favorite family memories—and most of them did not include Les. In that moment, Les decided it was time to show up for his family. From that point on, everything changed. Les shares his story as an example that your past moments will not define you. Everyone has the opportunity to go on to do great things when they commit to showing up for others.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at [ Ссылка ] Les Thomas Sr. is an Oklahoma native and retired veteran who honorably served in the United States Air Force for over 20 years. Outside of the military, Les made a career as a traveling motivational speaker and notable musical artist, and has been featured in three of the top five Hip Hop magazines: The Source, Hype Magazine, and Urban Magazine. During football and basketball seasons, you can catch Les on the microphone at Oklahoma State University games hyping up as many as 60,000 people. He is known as a staple in his community.
Les spends most of his time working to impact the next generation. He’s an Area Director for Youth For Christ and works to provide a foundation for and help shape the futures of teenagers. With a huge heart for the community, Les can often be found in the mix of community events serving with a smile. Recently, Les received a Citation of Service from State Representatives.
Les is a Co-Founder of Hope Culture LLC, an organization that helps bring hope to the community of OKC by providing resources to community partners making a tremendous impact. During COVID, they raised enough money to provide over 6,000 meals to those in need.
Les continues to reside in Oklahoma City, and will tell you that his greatest accomplishment is his family. He and Mary, his wife of 22 beautiful years, have two amazing children together. Their son, Les, is 23 and is completing his Masters at OSU. Their daughter, Leilah, is 20 in her sophomore year at Oklahoma State University. In his spare time, Les enjoys fishing, cooking out, and vacationing with his family. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at [ Ссылка ]
