- My next guest is hands down
the most grown up 12 year old I've ever met.
What he's doing will give you all the feels in your heart.
He's made it his life's mission to bring awareness
to the issues surrounding child abuse.
He's so inspiring, just check out how impressive
he was last time he was here with us.
I'm so moved by you right now I can't even talk.
You are so powerful.
- Thank you.
- How did you get involved
for speaking up for abused children?
- I actually had a classmate of mine experience abuse.
And I was pretty young still,
and I didn't know exactly what to do in that moment.
But I was able to tell them to get help,
and they got help.
But that stuck with me.
That put a burden on my heart to say,
well, I know it's just not this one kid.
I know that there are, who knows,
thousands at least of other kids going through this abuse.
And that's not okay with me.
And so as I get older I learn more about
the power of marching and the power of using your voice.
And I have a quote that says, "When one falls, we all fall.
But when one rises, we all rise".
So in my eyes, us helping our young people
is a way that we will all rise.
(audience cheering)
- What is happening?
- [Patti] You better talk that talk boy.
- You're incredible.
Please welcome back Elijah, y'all.
(audience clapping)
So meet Melissa.
- Hi. - Hi.
- You've been great on Little Big Shots.
I'm just saying, he's one of those children
just making waves. - I'm just saying.
- So how have things changed
since the last time I saw you, Elijah?
- Well, last time that we were able to have
an amazing conversation, this show has really brought me
a lot of publicity which I really do appreciate
because with publicity comes awareness to your issue.
And so, definitely, being on The Kelly Clarkson Show
has opened so many doors
and has given me so many opportunities.
For example, I was able to speak on MLK Day
with my version of "I Have A Dream" speech
and it basically explained
how us young people have a dream
of finding the safety and security
that we deserve as human beings.
- [Kelly] Yeah.
It explained that, even as young people,
we still have a voice
and we look to our leaders in the past
and they tell us to use that voice
to fight for what we believe in.
Because, even as young people, we have the power
to make a change, to make waves, and to make an impact.
(audience cheering)
- That is so true.
- Incredible.
Like, I mean...
- Makes me feel so, like--
Knowing that you're out there in the world
and you're, not only speaking and advocating
for people that can't,
but everybody that watches you speak will know,
"maybe I can speak up,"
"maybe the next time I can say something,"
or "maybe the next time someone can't,
"I can speak for them."
The ripple effect of who you are is massive.
- [Kelly] Yes! - Thank you.
- I mean, I said this last time, but
the innate power you have and just drive
and how you inspire people is, unfortunately, not normal.
Do you know what I'm saying? Like, not even in adults.
What you do is powerful.
- Thank you. - And it's really good
that you're using this spotlight
and this voice that you've been blessed with by God,
whoever you believe, whatever you believe.
You are making such a powerful movement
for other kids to feel powerful.
- Thank you. - Not only kids, though, man.
I'm 37 years old and I left the show that day going,
"I've gotta do better."
I was like, "Elijah's so young."
If he can do it, I can.
Anyway, but the last time you were here, though,
you were working on creating a cozy environment
at the hospital when kids from child abuse
have to come in and talk to people.
So is that happening right now?
- Definitely.
So we're really, really excited about that because
after leaving the show,
we did definitely get all the things that you said,
so we're really appreciative of that.
But also, not only raising the $3,000
and getting the $1,000 that you sent,
but the hospital in our community
actually matched those funds.
And so now we are able to put
every single penny that we have into those two rooms.
And now, it's definitely going to be ready by the summer.
- Oh my gosh, that's amazing.
After Elijah joined us last year to share his efforts
of helping victims of child abuse,
our social media exploded.
So many people of all ages wrote in.
Laura Sue wrote, "He is an old soul.
"I love Elijah.
"I wish I had a friend like him when I was a child.
"He would have been my voice."
And Jennifer wrote,
"Elijah, you are doing great deeds in this world.
"Keep doing what you're doing
"and making a difference in this big world.
"Always remember that you are
"a unique, special, young man who has a purpose.
"You will continue to grow
"if you follow your dreams and just be you."
I mean, these are strangers that have never met you
and were just impacted by your voice,
how does that make you feel?
- At some level, that gives me a sense of accomplishment.
- Yeah.
- So yes, it's a little weird for me and my family
to walk into our local grocery store and be recognized,
that's a little weird?
- Yeah.
- But this means that kids' minds are changing, too.
And that's one of the biggest things I'm huge on
is just to make sure that our young people know
that you have a voice and that voice matters.
And not only that, but you can make a huge change
with that voice and no one can tell you you can't.
- You are remarkable.
- [Elijah] Thank you.
- I mean, remarkable.
Well, Elijah has influenced people of all ages
and really changed lives, including someone in our audience.
Say hello to Casey and her mom, Tammy, everybody.
Casey, how did you come to know Elijah?
- When I was five, I was removed from my home
and entered to the foster care system.
And then, when I was 10,
I had already gone through
three different foster care homes
and I met my mom when I was 10.
And the earliest memory I have of us hanging out
was probably high school football games.
He was a kindergartener and I was 10
and we're just running around.
And when he shared his passion
of being an advocate for child abuse,
I decided to open up to him,
which was a big deal because
I haven't opened up to anybody outside my family.
- That's why we need to really listen,
someone this young can move mountains.
They can break down those barriers for us
and you can let them in, it's amazing.
So, what impact did confiding in him have on you?
- He definitely helped my confidence a lot,
from just self and school,
he just helps you feel better
and he's like a little brother that I have
and I just go to him if I have anything on my chest.
- Isn't that amazing, you have that kind of heart?
To where people feel welcome?
That's amazing.
Casey, you have something you want to tell Elijah, right?
- Yes.
Elijah, you are an incredible individual.
You put your mind to anything you have
and everyone knows you would do it.
No matter who or what is in your way,
you're gonna move it.
You impacted my life tremendously.
I'mma lose it.
- Oh, I'm joining you, I can't.
- You helped me and, in general,
your family helped me a lot to trust in people
and I know that you have my back
and you're gonna fight for me.
And you have given me my voice
to help lift others like me
and to speak at your next march.
- [Elijah] Thank you. (audience clapping)
- So, here's one thing I wanna say as well, is
I know that you've been inspired by him,
but you have just as much capability
within your body and your soul
and your mind and your heart,
and I think that's what you are really good at, Elijah,
is people get emboldened with that passion
and that desire to know that you're capable
of the same thing and that's what, I think,
really, truly is beautiful about this.
Do you love that?
You just get to connect to people like that?
- Definitely, and the fact that
I'm able to give them confidence is...
I mean, I absolutely am speechless about it.
- It's an amazing purpose. - For the people that know me,
they know that I love to talk and that I'm never speechless.
- I don't know what that's like, Elijah.
- I'm so shy, myself, I don't know.
- But, yes, definitely, thank you so much
for being willing to share your story.
And I want you to know that not only does that affect me,
I want you to know that not only do I see you as family
and we have this family bond, but also you being willing
to use your voice--
- [Kelly] And courage.
- Helps so many other kids just like you.
- What you just said, just to him,
think of how many people will watch you say that--
- [Kelly] That's what I'm saying!
And go, "I can do that, too."
It's already growing in front of us,
that you just spoke up and said that.
All these people are gonna watch you
and go, "I will say something.
"I will do it in my own way but I will speak up,"
and it's really amazing.
The movement's growing
in front of our eyes. - Igniting that fire.
It's incredible what you're doing.
It's incredible that you have the courage
to talk about things, not only to him,
but on live national television.
That's a hard thing, too, so.