Looking to Nature for a Sustainable Future

Join us for our largest conference yet, TEDxSacramento2015, on June 12, 2015. Register today before space runs out.

By Lauren Herman

How much stuff do you actually have? That is the question Beth Rattner asked the audience at the TEDxSacramento Salon “This Changes Everything: City” on March 7, 2015.

She challenged the audience to imagine pulling all their possession out of their home and placing everything into one pile. What does our stuff tell us about each other and our past? Most importantly, what does it tell us about our future?

Beth points out that our stuff may bring us comfort and joy in the moment, but asks at what cost to our future.

Another Man’s Trash is Not Always Another Man’s Treasure

As Biomimicry Institute’s Executive Director, Beth isn’t primarily concerned with the accumulation of the stuff we surround ourselves with. Her true concern lies in the environmental impact of the production and discarding of our possessions.

She points out that the world population will reach 9.5-10 billion by 2050 with 1.8 billion new people entering the middle class in the next few decades alone. Currently, the United States middle class spends $21 trillion a year on what she calls “our” stuff, but quickly reminds us that this will increase as population rises over time.

Beth Rattner speaking at the TEDxSacramento Salon "This Changes Everything: City" on March 7, 2015 challenging us to question what's in our stuff?

Rather than focus on the amount of stuff we purchase and discard, she brings to light a simple question that often complicates (in a good way) the dialogue around consumerism. What is in our stuff?

Understanding the make-up of our possessions, the items we use in everyday life, including our mobile phones, disposable coffee cups, toilet paper, and blue jeans, is important in the imagining and reimaging our future. Such knowledge allows us to understand the impact that the production and destruction of our stuff has on the environment and our health.

Our Design Program and How Nature's Way is the Right Way

Beth reveals that there are fifty million man-made chemicals in the world. In the United States, 60,000-80,000 of these chemicals are used in everyday life, but only one percent is regulated. As a result, Beth states, “We understand the hazards of one percent of [these chemicals].”

We all live with toxic chemicals everyday, perhaps without consciously realizing it. She discusses that a concern for cities should be the impact of these chemicals “becoming a lot greater” when humans live in densely populated areas.

But, Beth makes the point that “We all live with tonic chemicals everyday, but we just don’t know what to do about it. We think that we have to choose between things that are beautiful and things that are safe. But, that’s a false choice.”

“We all live with toxic chemicals everyday, but we just don’t know what to do about it. We think that we have to choose between things that are beautiful and things that are safe. But, that’s a false choice.”

Beth believes that we have a design problem – nothing more, nothing less. The Biomimicry Institute where she works stresses the importance of nature in design. Nature has the answers that can and will transform our current and future innovations.

Biomimicry follows “Life’s Principles” that “instruct us to build from the bottom up, self-assemble, optimize rather than maximize, use free energy, cross-pollinate, embrace diversity, adapt and evolve, and use life-friendly materials and processes, engage in symbiotic relationships, and enhance the bio-sphere.” The whole point is to learn from and mimic nature – adapt to nature, rather than the other way around. 

Ask Nature: What We Can Learn from Nature

Here are some lessons we can use as blueprints to transfer nature's designs to improve our own design process. Log onto Biomimicry's "Ask Nature" to find out more!

-Adhesive: Collaboration between Northwestern University in Illinois and the Kensey Nash Corporation resulted in a new adhesive called “Geckel” made possible by applying the phenomenon called “contact splitting” that creates the dry adhesion strengths of gecko feet and the polymer of an amino acid called DOPA used by mussels to create a wet adhesive.

It is hoped that this “biomimetic hybrid material” will be used for bandages and transdermal drug-delivery patches as it is impervious to water, maintains adhesion over 1000 contact/release cycles, and easily removed when no longer needed.

-Water Proof Material: Nikwax Analogy is a waterproof fabric that mimics the “waterproofing system” and “breathability” of mammal fur. The outer layer of dense microfiber fabric deflects wind and rain, and the inner layer made of asymmetric filaments uses capillary action to move moisture away from the body. It is hoped that this “nature-inspired technology” will be used in clothing produced for harsh weather conditions.

Imagine the other improvements or inventions made possible though the lessons of nature that are adaptable to our lives!

Consumers As Part of the Solution, Not the Problem

If we have not yet heeded the cautionary tales of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, An Inconvenient Truth, or the most recent This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein, consider Beth’s advocacy for working with nature rather than against it.

Beth Rattner stressing the importance of consumer participation in sustainable design.

Such an approach is needed in our state of California. The golden state is experiencing the worst drought in its history leading Governor Brown to recently announce California’s first mandatory water reduction for businesses and residents. It is time to think about how the actions and designs of humans, especially large corporations and well-off communities impact such conditions. This speaks to Beth’s discussion on the growing middle class and its consumption habits.

Beth ultimately believes that consumers are the solution, not the problem. She asks us to take a few minutes everyday to sit in nature and observe. Observe how nature cooperates rather than competes for a healthy, thriving environment. She asks us to consider what might happen if companies and society both mimicked nature in this way.

What if companies cooperated rather than competed; what would our environment – our cities look like? Would this contribute to the health of the planet rather than the bottom line of a given company or the well being of one community over the other?

Such considerations will transform our designs, economic systems and approach to life. Don’t be afraid to let nature in — think outside the ‘big box retailer,’ and think inside the eco-sphere.

There are more AMAZING speakers to come at the upcoming TEDxSacramento conference “THIS Changes EVERYTHING” on June 12, 2015 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater. REGISTER NOW before tickets sell out!

Dr. Ernesto Sirolli, Entrepreneur and International Development Maverick, to Speak at the Upcoming TEDxSacramento Conference

By Lauren Herman

We are excited to announce that Dr. Ernesto Sirolli will speak at the largest TEDxSacramento conference, “THIS Changes EVERYTHING,” on Friday, June 12, 2015. Don’t wait until the last minute – register now!

Dr. Ernest Sirolli, Founder, Sirolli Institute

Dr. Ernesto Sirolli, researcher, author and founder of Sirolli Institute, has worked for decades in the fields of community and economic development. What makes his work TED worthy? It's his admission and unique approach to failure; yes, the “f” word.

Dr. Sirolli’s lived experiences with the “f” word began while working for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout Africa as a young adult. He witnessed the potential of local knowledge that was (and still is) rarely acknowledged by foreign aid workers and volunteers who continually implemented (and still do implement) failed projects.

Rather than walking away in frustration, Dr. Sirolli tackled the sobering truth of aid failure by creating an alternative approach, known as “Enterprise Facilitation,” that harnesses the passion and innovation of community leaders to make the change they want to see in their communities. Over 250 communities worldwide have adopted this “person-centered” approach through the Sirolli Institute that advocates the art of listening to create the foundation for localized sustainable economic development.

Dr. Ernesto Sirolli speaking during his previous TED talk in September 2012.

Dr. Sirolli inspires the ability to recognize and accept failure as a stepping-stone to reimagine and recreate current systems that are failing us. When was the last time you turned failure – the “f” word - into action?

Want to know more! Watch Ernesto Sirolli on the TED stage, and get ready to hear him and other great thinkers and doers at TEDxSacramento’s “THIS Changes EVERYTHING” on June 12, 2015 at the Sacramento Community Center Theater.

Urban Design for Joy

Join us for our largest conference yet, TEDxSacramento2015, on June 12, 2015. Register today before space runs out.

By: Chris Brune

George Zisiadis is an interactive artist and designer who playfully reimagines the everyday. He inspires in those who touch his work new ways of seeing the world. His San Francisco-based studio produces work independently and in collaboration with brands and institutions.

“Through both guerrilla interventions and my public art work, I’ve focused on re-imagining mundane urban experiences into opportunities for joy.”

— George Zisiadis

George Zisiadis at the TEDxSacramentoSalon, "This Changes Everything: City," on March 7, 2015.

George wasn't always the urban design rebel we met on the TEDxSacramento stage at “This Changes Everything: City” at The Guild Theatre. He was once a self-proclaimed jaded New Yorker until he took a stroll in Manhattan's Central Park in the winter of 2005.

George's 'Ah-ha!' moment

Hungarian artist Christo Yavacheff and French artist Jeanne-Claude, known jointly as Christo and Jeanne-Claude, descended on Central Park in early January 2005. They employed an army of volunteers to help create a remarkable installation piece entitled The Gates that transformed the massive park with vibrant deep saffron-colored nylon fabric banners along its many miles of pathway.

For George, the same walk that he had done hundreds of times before was now a sublime experience. He found himself wandering for hours in a mesmerized state of awe. When reflecting over the transformative experience of the installation, George recalls a moment of epiphany.

“People spend millions of dollars to build giant ‘things’ in cities that serve no other purpose than to make people happy? That’s awesome!”

— George Zisiadis

He decided to seek out more experiments in urban imagination. George has dedicated his life to creating experiences, like The Gates, so others might be inspired, too. He set out to bring a sense of joy and wonder to the people who participate in urban spaces across the country.

Urban Inventions

George set out on his new path by making simple observations to add poetry to the everyday. He started asking questions like “maybe something more could go here, something more joyous?” He didn’t have to wait long until he found his first opportunity to experiment. His first project centered around the bike racks of New York City. It was his first in an ongoing series of installations that playfully re-imagined public space.

Musical Bike Rack - An urban intervention re-imagining the use of bike racks.

In George's mind, music (gongs) + the mundane (the ubiquitous NYC bike rack) = potential for a more human, emotional, and reflective experience. George summed up the whole experience in one simple truth, "Who doesn’t like hitting gongs?"

As adults we come to rely on routine. It’s experiences like the Musical Bike Rack that shake people out of their daily routines and give us permission to play. Simply put, George is creating experiences that punctuate the everyday urban landscape and remind us how to seek joy as a child might.

Mistletoe Drone

The introduction of the Amazon drone delivery concept presented George with an opportunity to, once again, inject some whimsy into an otherwise ordinary tool whose purpose was utilitarian in design. When the drone delivery stunt first took off, George said, "We can do better. How about a mistletoe drone?"

Mistletoe Drone - An urban intervention in San Francisco's Union Square in December 2013 designed to spread holiday cheer.

George was able to reach pedestrians in an urban setting without having to deploy a (semi)permanent installation. The drone itself wasn’t placed ‘on’ the urban landscape; it was placed ‘above’ the fray of busy holiday shopping. The experience was piloted to people instead of relying on pedestrians to make their way to where an installation was located. This added layer of mobility created an element of surprise that co-opted the passersby into participants.

The drone also illustrated how a relatively small execution can impact participants and onlookers in a deep and relevant way. George learned that he didn’t need to build an imposing physical structure to make a big impact on the public. A quadcopter, mistletoe, and some holiday cheer were all the ingredients necessary to spread joy that afternoon in San Francisco’s Union Square.

Pulse of The City

These early projects inspired George to tackle bigger issues in cities. There is a truth that comes into focus when we humans gather in increasingly dense space — we lose touch with our natural rhythms and become increasingly drone-like. George shared his solution to this unfortunate effect of city living. He asked himself, "Amongst the chaotic rhythms of the city, how can we connect people to the rhythms of their own bodies?" His answer to this question was realized in his installation Pulse of The City where participants' heartbeats are turned into music.

Pulse of the City - a public art installation that turns pedestrians' heartbeats into music. 

When visitors hold onto the handles, they hear their heartbeat layered over with custom music produced from their real-time pulse data.

Pulse of the City gave people the opportunity to stop and playfully reconnect with the rhythms of their bodies. The installation is another example of how George transformed the soundscape by adding joy to the maelstrom of noise endemic to city life.

Urban Imagination

George shared with us the elegantly simple ideas that eventually found their way into his book, Urban Imagination. It's a collection of fifty whimsical drawings that add a playful twist to everyday urban objects. Skyscraper ziplines, gumball parking meters, and disco ball traffic lights are just a few of the charmingly illustrated ideas that explore how to make cities more fun.

“For adults, Urban Imagination is a reminder of what it’s like to see the world through a child’s eyes. For children, it’s a validation of what they already know is possible.”

— George Zisiadis

Grass Bench - The first Urban Imagination concept turned into reality! Created for the San Francisco Exploratorium's night of Civic Hacking.

This series of sketches proved to be far more than the makings of a fantastic coffee table book. Those who thumbed through the pages of childlike crayon and color pencil drawings found that their own latent urban imagination had been ignited with the possibility of designing for joy.

Isn't it frivolous: Is urban art worth the cost of investment?

George introduces us to two very different cities with wildly different outlooks on function and design. The first city "Boring," as George calls it, is the type of place where overpass and stairwells are grey and empty — it's a familiar scene in most cities. George also introduces us to a city a few miles down the road that employs a fundamental difference in its approach to urban design. In this second city, a sterile, unremarkable, underpass can be re-imagined as a communal meeting place. But, is it worth the expense and effort?

Simple considerations at the design phase can result in urban spaces that are not only entertaining, but also profit centers for the municipality that commissions them. George returns to his formative experience with joy-centered design to substantiate this claim.

The Gates in Central Park is estimated to have attracted four million visitors during its fifteen day run. Those visitors that flocked to Manhattan from around the world paid for lodging, ate at restaurants, bought souvenirs from street vendors — you get the point. The taxes from these transactions fill city coffers, not to mention the extra dollars that find their way to the pockets of vendors and small business owners. It's estimated that The Gates installation was responsible for over $254 million in revenue; not bad for a bunch of colored sheets waving in the wind.

George adds some insight by saying, "...designing for function and designing for joy are not mutually exclusive." Embracing a joy-centered design ethos can indeed have a real world impact on the fortunes of cities and the individuals who live there.

George left us with a very simple question.

“We have a choice as a society. We can continue building and shaping our cities to be boring, or we can have more happy adventures — which would you rather live in?”

— George Zisiadis

He showed us how any idea, no matter how grand in scope or singular in focus can both effect how we shape our world through joyful design.

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For more examples of George Zisiadis' work and creative process, including his '100 Questions to guide any creative project,' visit his website.

Interested in learning about and sharing more ideas worth spreading? Register for the upcoming TEDxSacramento "THIS Changes EVERYTHING!" on June 12, 2015. Join thousands of fellow Sacramentans at the biggest TEDxSacramento conference ever!

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From Kabul to Sacramento: What the Afghan Women's Cycling Team Taught Me about Life

Join us for our largest conference yet, TEDxSacramento2015, on June 12, 2015. Register today before space runs out.

By Lauren Herman

When filmmaker Sarah Menzies traveled to Kabul, Afghanistan to document the lives of female cyclists, she began an unexpected journey not just as a director, but also as an individual. 

She spoke at the TEDxSacramentoSalon “This Changes Everything: WOMEN” about the film, Afghan Cycles, and how it was more than just another job. She admits that it did not take much convincing for her to pack her bags when she learned about the female cyclist team based in Kabul. But, what was surprising about the project was her unexpected personal growth before and after the film that began when she landed in Afghanistan meeting, befriending and filming the female cyclists.

     Sarah Menzies on the TEDxSacramento stage at "This Changes Everything: Women" on December 12, 2015.

In a recent blog post about her TED talk, Sarah wrote, “I’ll be honest, when I was asked to speak at TEDxSacramento this winter, I was nervous...I think it’s because for the first time, I was required to insert myself into the story. We’ve tried so hard to keep ourselves out of any of the messaging, so it was strange to personalize this story and talk about myself. The truth is, the women we’re profiling in the film have completely transformed me and my way of thinking.”

Sarah’s Unexpected Journey

Sarah’s unexpected journey as a filmmaker and individual brought to light her own misconceptions of Afghanistan and the role of women in it – a county made familiar to Westerners through scenes of war produced by mass media rather than personal experience.

Sarah explains on the TEDxSacramento stage that, “Afghanistan is not an easy place to be a women let alone a women riding a bicycle.” But, she goes on to explain that the females she befriended and worked alongside were not helpless, weak individuals that need saving like she once imagined.

Watch Sarah Menzies' TEDxSacramento talk, "What the Afghan women's cycling team taught me about life" filmed at "This Changes Everything: Women" on December 12, 2014.

The women in the film completely changed her “western bias and western fears” about the lives of Afghani women. She realized that even though “women are oppressed by men, culture and tradition...that does not have to mark them as victims.” She is determined to showcase these women as the strong, hopeful females she met who challenged her to see them as more than the conflict of their homeland. They are individuals with hopes and dreams doing something they love – riding a bicycle. Rather than feel pity and sorrow, she wants the world to feel the hope of these Afghan women cyclists when learning about them.

Sarah’s Gift to Us from the TED Stage

Sarah wanted to give a voice to the story of these female cyclists through her film, but they in turn gave her a new perspective that she is now able to use to speak to our own prejudices, biases and misconceptions of our world – especially Afghanistan.

Even though Sarah was not in Afghanistan offering humanitarian aid, I believe that she was on a mission for humanity to save ourselves from our fallacies and misjudgments of “the other” -- other cultures, other religions, other countries, other governments that are different from our own and which, we -- in turn -- deem as inferior or a danger to our own. In this case, it is the unexplored country and women of Afghanistan in which most Americans only understand through the lens of the violence and conflict.

We need people like Sarah to wake us up to the realization that despite differences in culture, gender, age, nationality, and occupations, we are all human. All seven billion of us experience pain and joy; we all have family and friends; we have much more in common than differences. To truly appreciate that, we need to listen and learn from one another and be open to the possibility that the labels we give to one another are most likely wrong.

Take the opportunity to listen to Sarah’s story on the TEDxSacramento stage to see how her journey will change you. Let her film and her talk serve as transformative agents for you.

Want to learn more mind blowing ideas worth spreading? Attend the upcoming TEDxSacramento2015 conference, "THIS Changes EVERYTHING," at the Community Center Theater on June 12, 2015. Register Now!

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Pose like a superhero because you are

Join us for our largest event yet, TEDxSacramento2015, on June 12, 2015. Register today before space runs out.

We're pleased to release John Marcotte's talk, "Girls can be their own superheroes," first given at the TEDxSacramentoSalon, "This Changes Everything: Women," in December 2014.

John Marcotte at TEDxSacramentoSalon, December 2014, "This Changes Everything: Women"

#PoseLikeASuperhero

This talk has already struck a chord with the internets, inspiring women and girls to pose like a superhero, take a photo, and post it online with the hashtag #PoseLikeASuperhero, as featured on the Women You Should Know blog. Don't worry, if you're male, you can participate too.

And now, enjoy the talk, and maybe you too will be inspired. Watch it here or at the TEDx website.

How Millennial Choua Yang is Making a Sacramento for You and Me

By: Lauren Herman

From the Editor: Labeled as the “me” generation, millennials are often generalized as lazy, self-absorbed, and obsessed with selfies, friending one another on Facebook, and tweeting their opinions. But, like any previous generation, millennials are more than the labels used in the media to group hundred of thousand Americans into one cohesive “me-centric” stereotype.

In our Sacramento community, the following individuals featured in this blog series are the antithesis to the argument that millennials just don’t care. May their stories make you think twice about what it means to be a part of the “m” generation.

Choua Yang - Sacramentan Millennial: Beyond Standardization in Public Education

At a young age, Choua Yang immigrated to Sacramento with her parents from Laos. Considering herself still a Sacramentan to this day, she recalls her transition to the Capital Region as a journey based in community, family, and education that she now takes to her current job in the Sacramento City United School District.

Working in partnership with the district as an Associate Director at the Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center, Choua serves as coordinator of the After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) program for the five large comprehensive Sacramento high schools. Within ASSETs, she works alongside students, educators, administrators, and local governance to ensure she maintains what she describes as a “meaningful” place outside the classroom for youth within the public education system. It is her dream to work as an “adult ally” within the very same education system that helped her become the person she is today.

Choua reflects, “After college, I initially wanted to go to graduate school to become a high school counselor, but districts were laying off counselors along with many other educators. I still wanted to work in education and be in the front line, so I began as a part-time Team Leader in the afterschool program. I had so much fun and have stayed ever since.”

Choua is an asset herself showing high school students what is possible with community support. Her diverse cultural and socioeconomic background, attendance in the Sacramento Unified School District, and knowledge of what is necessary for young adults to succeed in college and beyond are all factors make her an asset.

Her greatest advantage in this new field of education management is living and working in Sacramento without taking the freeway to work. Parents and students see her at their neighborhood grocery stores and community events. Choua considers herself a member of their community.

With this, Choua strives to make the ASSETs program more than an afterschool program; it is a high school center dedicated to the continuing evolution of educational, emotional, and physical development for teens that cannot be meet or measured by standardized tests and curriculum.

“I envision this program as a glimpse into higher education opportunities. Colleges don’t close at 3pm and libraries stay open almost 24 hours a day. But high schools close at 3:00pm and staff go home, expecting students to leave campus and study elsewhere. Districts cannot provide access to 21st century learning and technology to all students. Because of this gap, I was not prepared for college. I want to make sure high school students can utilize their campuses like colleges,” Choua says.

Though not the sole solution for reducing high school drop out rates or college preparations, ASSETs is the start of a long process to keep teens engaged with their own educational journey – both inside and outside the classroom.

Continuing the Discussion of Public Education

Choua is not an anomaly of any generation. That is the reason why her story is important. She is representative of a trend among current and past generations concerned with California’s public education system. Education has been a huge concern for young Californians for generations – Baby Boomer, Gen Xers and now Millennials.

Born in Laos and raised in Sacramento, Choua considers herself a 1.5 generation because growing up she had to translate for her parents and ensure her younger siblings received quality education. Working on the front lines of ASSETs, Choua has been able to bridge the gap between many parents and their students due to cultural and generational differences. 

It is the recent millennial generation that is carrying the torch for public education and bringing to discussion the rise of tuition, persistent budget cuts, oversized classrooms, elimination of extra curriculum activities - all structural changes that are needed to preserve and advance public education for all.

If trends in college enrollment among millennials continue, they are expected to be the most educated generation, but it is not proving worthwhile to many with low employment and rising debt among recent graduates.

Those who have been on the public education forefront are the faculty, teachers, students, parents, administration, and elected officials, but Choua brings her story to you to spark public interest, your interest, in public education that goes beyond the ballot box.

Choua brings this conversation to the table for Sacramento to piece out, so we do not forget the need to be informed and aware of what is happening in public education whether its our elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, community colleges, or the State and University of California systems.

Public education cannot exist without public participation, especially regarding the use of taxpayer dollars in funding education for our communities. Participation and awareness come in many forms. Choua found her place and stance on the topic of education. Have you found yours? Without quality and accessible public education - a public good for all Californians - Sacramento cannot exist for you and me.

Interested in learning about and sharing more ideas worth spreading? Register for the upcoming TEDxSacramento "THIS Changes EVERYTHING!" on June 12, 2015. Join thousands of fellow Sacramentans at the biggest TEDxSacramento conference ever!

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X Changed Everything for Me. Let It Change Everything for You: Announcing the Biggest TEDxSacramento Conference EVER!

By Lauren Herman

Once upon a time, I was a Sacramentan who did not want to be a Sacramentan. I was lost in what Sacramento wasn’t rather than what Sacramento is. What changed this for me? X changed everything - TEDxSacramento changed everything for me.

A year ago, I became the blogger for TEDxSacramento in a reluctant effort to embrace the city where I was born and raised. I recently graduated from college and returned to Sacramento after living abroad. High off my experiences of other cities, I asked myself what I wanted out of the city I call home. Thus, I ask you, what do you want from our city, our community of Sacramento?  

I am excited to share with you the opportunity to let X change everything for you, too! Join fellow Sacramentans for the biggest TEDxSacramento conference “THIS Changes EVERYTHING” on Friday, June 12, 2015 at the Community Center Theater.

If you have not experienced TEDxSacramento for yourself, please consider the endless possibilities of what X can bring to your life. Let TEDxSacramento change something, if it has not yet, for you.

People from all walks of life have a connection to TEDxSacramento whether they have attended an event, know someone who has attended an event, participated in an event, volunteered at an event, read about the organization in local media, or followed the organization on social media. Join the movement of people embracing community gathering, dialogue and exchange in the name of ideas worth spreading in Sacramento.

During this time of transition for Sacramento, it is important to remember who and what Sacramento is. Sacramento is simply you and me. We make TEDxSacramento: the opportunity to learn and share ideas in our Capital Region. The people connected to TEDxSacramento, the volunteers, attendees, performers, and participants, and their ideas changed everything for me, and it has for thousands of people. That is why X changed everything for me.

Join your fellow Sacramentans for the big one - the biggest conference in TEDxSacramento’s history in the heart of downtown Sacramento! Let X change something for you. REGISTER NOW!

How Girls Can Be and Are Their Own Superheroes

By Lauren Herman

John Marcotte may not be a woman or identify as a female, but he brought to the TEDxSacramento stage a unique perspective as a husband, brother, son, and father – all identities that are linked to and exist because of the females in his life. His story at the TEDxSacramentoSalon “This Changes Everything: WOMEN” began with two females very close to his heart: his daughters, Anya and Stella.

John Marcotte speaking on the TEDxSacramento stage at "This Changes Everything: WOMEN" in December 2014.

John admits that, “...I am here because I am the father of two little girls, and it’s my job as a dad to try to make the world a slightly better place for them.” He goes on to confess that he is not only raising little girls, but superheroes!

Anya and Stella are the heroes of his talk, inspiring the creation of the organization, Heroic Girls, dedicated to empowering girls by advocating strong role models in alternative media. John founded this organization to breakdown gender roles in the comic book industry, specifically in its characters, for his daughters and all females daring to dream beyond what society dictates girls can and cannot do.

The organization’s mission says it all: “We want to get more girls and women involved in the creation and consumption of comic books as a tool to increase assertiveness and self-esteem, and to help them to dream big.”

But, what speaks most about the organization are its mascots – Anya and Stella. These young females are real life heroes dressed in capes and masks, who have become a huge sensation in the comic industry proving that girls can be superheroes. They may still be in elementary school, but they are world famous.

Superheroes Only For Boys? I think NOT!

There has been a recent surge in mass entertainment based on comic book characters – many of whom are female, including Wonder Woman, Hawk Girl, Spider Woman, Black Widow, and the current X-Men team that is currently an all full female team. Despite the participation of female superheroes in the storylines of movies and comic books, John questions, “Where do our kids get the idea that superheroes are just for boys?”

John Marcotte with his superhero daughters, Anya and Stella.

The concern for society’s narrow definition of femininity is described in a video made by John and his wife about their daughters’ quest for the action figure that mirrors their new idol – Gamora. Gamora is a female comic book character and recent star of the movie, Guardians of the Galaxy.

In the video, Anya and Stella travel to Target in search for the Gamora action figure. What they discover is a starkly different set of toys for boys and girls. They do not find their idol let alone any female comic book action figure other than Wonder Woman that is packaged and sold as a set with male comic book characters. Their journey ends with two disappointed superheroes left dazed and confused, unable to complete their mission.

This creative illustration of the gender gap in the comic and toy industry is filled with humor, but also concern around narrowly defined gender roles regarding what is “appropriate” for girls’ toys and boys’ toys. In fact, according to John, toys are more gender specific now than ever before. What John describes as “princess culture” still determines what the toy industry produces for girls, undercutting the potential of both girls and boys.

Surprising Facts from John’s Talk about Superheroes and the Toy Industry

Below are interesting research studies discussed in John’s talk. You may be surprised by these ideas worth spreading and by what you may or may not know about the toy industry and the power of superheroes.

-Toys are More Heavily Gendered Right Now Than Ever Before 

Postdoctoral scholar and lecturer in Sociology at the University of California, Davis, Elizabeth Sweet, found that toys are less gender neutral than ever before.

She writes, “...But while these toys [of today] may broaden the offerings within segregated toy aisles, they do nothing to challenge the underlying fact that the aisles are still segregated. And rather than busting stereotypes, such toys reinforce the idea that gender is the primary determinant of interests and skills.”

Dr. Sweet advocates making toys “gender inclusive,” and other organizations worldwide are pushing for such changes in product design and marketing as well. Let Toys Be Toys, a campaign designed to end gender categorization of toys, has successfully lobbied Toys"R"Us to end the labeling of toy aisles as either “boy toys” and “girl toys.”

By ending such gender categorizations, parents and the toy industry may learn that the interests of children are more diverse than originally thought, proving that Anya and Stella are not the only girls who prefer action figures to baby dolls.

-Even Barbie Dressed in Professional Attire Can Limit the Ambitions of Young Females

According to researchers at Oregon State University and the University of California, Santa Cruz, children can be greatly influenced by their toys.

In a recent study, researchers from these universities found that girls who played with the Mrs. Potato Head doll, compared to girls who played with Barbies, were more likely to foresee that they are capable of the same career opportunities as boys. Even if a girl in the study played with a “Career Barbie,” she was still less likely to see herself as capable of achieving the same occupations as boys. These girls were more likely to select traditional “female occupations,” such as a teacher or flight attendant, as their career ambitions.

One researcher described it as one of the first studies to explore whether, “...something about the type of doll, not characteristics of the participants, causes a difference in career aspirations.” This study gives us pause to how the (dis)empowerment of girls come from toys, and how these objects shape identities.

-Standing in a Superhero Pose for Two Minutes Can Boost Your Confidence

According to research by academics at Harvard Business School and Columbia, body language affects your mood and confidence. It was discovered that holding oneself in “power poses” (defined as expansive, open postures) results in empowerment.

Such poses have proven to change hormone levels, specifically increasing testosterone, resulting in increased dominate behaviors, and decreasing cortisol, resulting in decreased stress. Researchers reported that “...by simply changing physical posture, an individual prepares his or her mental and physiological systems to endure difficult and stressful situations.” So, don’t be afraid to stand tall like a superhero because the benefits are “super-isingly” empowering!  

Lessons Learned from John, Anya, and Stella

Knowing all the facts, research, and data about the confines of societal gender norms, John reminds the audience why he is speaking on the TEDxSacramento stage.

John states, “...I am here because I need to tell my girls that there is nothing wrong if they like something that society says is for boys...All of us together have to show our kids that gender lines are not walls; they are meant to be crossed.” John is trying to empower not only his daughters, but everyone to live out who they want to be by explaining the limitations that gender based assumptions and labels can have on individual development.

Empowerment can be a tricky word that is thrown around without much explanation or definition. It has an assumed meaning by those who use it, and it is rarely questioned by people who hear it. But, does it actually have the same meaning to every person? I think not.

Anya and Stella are role models for us all by being who they want to be, not by being what others deem them to be; that’s their own form of empowerment. These girls may attend school by day, but by night and during the weekend, they are inspiring the world and their dad to continue in the tradition of girl empowerment through being the superheroes they want to be (and know they are).

Take John’s message to heart; ask yourself what form of empowerment allows you to be what and who you want to be? Let the superhero in all of us lead the way.

Interested in more speakers from the This Changes Everything: Women event? Then, read these posts also:

• From The TEDxSacramento Stage: Amy Logan And Her Journey Through Patriarchy Of Today And Yesterday
• TEDxSacramentoSalon “This Changes Everything: WOMEN” Event Ends The Year With A Bang!
• From The TEDxSacramento Stage: Emily Graslie, The One And Only Chief Curiosity Correspondent, On The Value Of Curiosity

Sign up for the TEDxSacramento event list to receive a priority invitation to our next event!

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Announcing the Upcoming TEDxSacramentoSalon “This Changes Everything: City” on March 7, 2015

By Lauren Herman

Urban life is becoming increasingly attractive to Americans across the United States who are (re)claiming an urban lifestyle as their “American Dream.”

Cities are a practical, economical choice with smaller housing options and shorter commutes. After the recent recession and housing crash, a large chuck of America is squeezed by college or personal debt, often making mortgages and car loans unattainable. [i]

Cities are also appealing to both the young and the old as urban crime continues to decrease, urban schools and urban spaces continue to improve, and factories no longer occupy significant chunks of city land, polluting the city landscape. [ii]

At the same time, the suburbs are now home to high levels of poverty, unemployment, and abandoned housing – all characteristics of the city less than a century ago. Those who can afford it are fleeing the suburbs and its problems for the revitalization of urban utopia – a process some label as “yupification” and gentrification of urban America. [iii]

With the transformation of the American homeland, debates are emerging about how this will shape our future cities; Sacramento is no different.

The Redevelopment of Urban Space: How Sacramento is No Different

The majority of California, 95 percent of its residents, resides within urban areas making the golden state the most urban compared to any other state. It is no surprise that Sacramento, California’s capital city, is undergoing significant urban development.

Downtown Sacramento will transform over the next few years with the construction of the new entertainment and sports center, future home to the NBA team – the Sacramento Kings. With the influx of capital to fund this large construction project comes even more capital and development for its surrounding area, most recently the redevelopment of the 700 block of K Street.

This redevelopment of downtown Sacramento gives Sacramentans a platform for an ongoing discussion around civic engagement regarding the future of American cities. This resurgence of urban development across the United States and the (re)interest in American cities has and will continue to change its affordability, its use of space, and the opportunities offered to its residents and its citizens.

What stake do we as Sacramentans - the public, its residents, and its citizens - have in current and future plans of our city? The urban landscape shapes us, our memories, our identities, but how do we locate or insert ourselves in its transformations? What are the roles of its citizens, its residents, both present and future?

Announcing the Upcoming Conference: "This Changes Everything: City"

For the third TEDxSacramentoSalon in our “This Changes Everything” 2014/2015 series, we present to you: “This Changes Everything: City.” We will be bringing in thinkers and doers to share ideas and stories that are transforming life in the city and our role in it.

As the capital of one of the largest economies in the world and the largest state government in the world, Sacramento is uniquely positioned to be an idea catalyst for cities around the globe. We live here. We build here. We grow here. This city belongs to you and me. “This Changes Everything: City” is for people who give a damn. People like you.

Sign up for the TEDxSacramento event list to receive a priority invitation to this upcoming conference!

References for Blog Post:

[i, ii] Chakrabarti, Vishaan. "America's Urban Future" New York Times. 16 April 2014. Online.

[iii] Gallagher, Leigh. The End of the Suburbs: Where the American Dream is Moving. New York, New York : Portfolio/Penguin, 2013.

Updates:

To paragraph 2 under "The Redevelopment Of Urban Space: How Sacramento Is No Different": 800 block changed to 700 block. 01.29.2015.

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From the TEDxSacramento Stage: Emily Graslie, the One and Only Chief Curiosity Correspondent, on the Value of Curiosity

By: Lauren Herman

Emily Graslie, Chief Curiosity Correspondent for the Field Museum, speaking on the TEDxSacramento stage.

On the TEDxSacramento stage, Emily Graslie treated Sacramento to humor and knowledge around the topic of women in the STEM fields - science, technology, engineering, and mathematics - engaging the audience about the value of curiosity.

No surprise in her delivery. Emily has a passion for speaking to audiences about the expansive world of natural history as a female vlogger and educator running The Brain Scoop – her own YouTube channel that helped to pave her way as the first and the world’s only Chief Curiosity Correspondent at the Field Museum in Chicago.

As a Chief Curiosity Correspondent, Emily makes interactive videos featuring the museum’s collections. The museum only exhibits one percent of its collection at any given time, so that’s where Emily takes charge allowing the public access to its massive wealth of knowledge that would otherwise go undiscovered.

Rather than explore how she obtained her current job, which is a popular question among her fans, Emily introduced her talk with one of the most watched episodes of The Brain Scoop focusing on sexism in the STEM fields. This video, featuring a sample of the sexist public comments that Emily receives, sparks discussion around women in the STEM fields introducing how sexism can seep into all fields undermining the work and curiosity of both women and men. Her message is simple; no matter male or female, we should all be curiosity seekers attempting to find and uphold the value of curiosity in our lives - a topic she expands upon in her TEDxSacramento talk. 

 

The Value of Curiosity

During her TEDxSacramento talk, Emily admits that one of the most valuable lessons of her job is that “...we are all inherently conduits and correspondents of curiosity.”  Holding this firm belief, Emily shared with the TEDxSacramento audience how curiosity was and is essential in the continuation of the museum as a public good and the preservation of natural history.

Emily prompted the question, “why do people go to museums? What were the reasons of the past, and what are the reasons of the present?" Emily proposes that there are individuals who go to museums for quality time with their family, individuals who go to museums because they feel obligated to go, and individuals who go to museums to seek answers to their questions and want a life changing experience. The latter describes a group of people Emily calls “the explorers.”

Emily advocates that every person should take on the role of the “explorer” and allow curiosity to lead us in our daily lives. Emily advises that the Wikipedia pages should not serve as our mode of knowledge; rather, knowledge should derive from our journeys of exploration within the museum - keeping it alive as a tradition to learn about our natural environment. 

 

The History of Natural History Museums

Emily Graslie speaking about the collections of the Field Museum on the TEDxSacramento stage.

Museums have their roots in the Renaissance – the age of enlightenment. During this time, preservation of human remains and animal specimens was easier than ever before. Preservation and collecting became a fad among the rich and academics, who competed for the most shocking and puzzling collections.

As collections outgrew the storage capacity of its owners, profiteering from the curiosity of the public sparked the idea to put these collections on public display. The concept of public exhibitions eventually gave birth to the public museum - an institution we now trust will document, study, and preserve our history for current and our future generations.

Museums allow us to experience a world apart from our own without jumping on a plane or to immerse ourselves in an eco system that preserves the environment and species of a particular time and place.  Standing in front of exhibits and displays allows us to imagine the unimaginable and ask questions of yourself and the world around us; curiosity naturally emerges.

 

YOU Can Be a Curiosity Correspondent, too!

Emily explains, “That’s the thing about curiosity. You can’t be curious about something if you don’t know that it exists. That’s why we all ought to be chief curiosity correspondents. We need these story tellers of our natural environment...Technology is not what is answering our questions...it’s people who are answering these questions for us.”

Do you know any of these fascinating facts about our world? Here are some things Emily discusses that are worth exploring from the Field Museum to quench the thirst of the “explorer.” Imagine what else is out there!

Artifact: Allende Meteorite – a piece of a meteorite shower that lit up thousands of square miles of Northern Mexico and Southwestern United States in 1969. 

What You May Not Know (Surprising Fact):  It contains abundant chondrules and large Calcium-Aluminum-rich Inclusions (CAIs) that are among the oldest objects formed in the Solar System.

Shoebill - a rare species with no close relatives among living birds. Photo: Field Musuem.

Artifact: Shoebill – large stork-like bird, named after its massive shoe-shaped bill, found in the swamps of central Africa. 

What You May Not Know (Surprising Fact):  If you saw this bird anywhere else, you would think it was a Muppet. It is an extremely unique bird with no close relatives among living birds. It looks unreal!

Artifact: Aztec Sun God Opal – a 35-Carat White Opal from Mexico, 16th Century.

What You May Not Know (Surprising Fact): The opal is carved into the shape of a human face. It is known as one of the most mysterious pieces in the Field’s Museum gem collection.

These are just a small fraction of what museums have to offer us – the unimaginable and unbelievable parts of our history that might have gone undiscovered and unknown. Imagine what else museums have to offer, and how our curiosity can be sparked by the questions and exploration of our natural history. If you have not seen her videos, Emily makes you want to learn more through her curiosity whether it’s the topic of women in the STEM fields, taxidermy, or rare mammals.

Once again, we owe Emily a thank you for delivering her wit and passion about natural history that motivates us all to reconsider the role of science and history in our lives. Are you up for the challenge to become a curiosity correspondent? The world awaits you!

Interested in more speakers from the This Changes Everything: Women event? Then, read these posts also:

• From The TEDxSacramento Stage: Amy Logan And Her Journey Through Patriarchy Of Today And Yesterday
• TEDxSacramentoSalon “This Changes Everything: WOMEN” Event Ends The Year With A Bang!

Sign up for the TEDxSacramento event list to receive a priority invitation to our next event!

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From the TEDxSacramento Stage: Amy Logan and Her Journey through Patriarchy of Today and Yesterday

By Lauren Herman

Like many researchers and authors, Amy Logan’s life work resulted from a life changing experience –- surviving domestic violence.

On the TEDxSacramento stage, Amy shared her journey of escaping a violent relationship that inspired her role as a researcher of gender-based violence, focusing on the origins of honor killing. It took her a decade of research before her personal journey of self-reflection and the stories of others were transformed into her book – The Seven Perfumes of Sacrifice.

Amy is not the first to speak about this subject. She joins several TED speakers, including Meera Vijayann and Jackson Katz, who shed light on gender-based violence. TEDxSacramento was pleased to welcome Amy to bring her own story of hope and self-discovery to add to the TEDx library.

Amy Logan on the TEDxSacramento stage.

Amy’s Story

Like many victims, Amy did not report or seek help for the abuse she experienced. What is unique about her story is that Amy transcended into what she called a “spiritual quest” researching the gender-based violence -- honor killing.

Amy describes honor killing as “the murder of a female, usually by a male relative, for immoral behavior that brings shame to the family... killing the women is what restores the family honor.”

It was during her time as a journalist in the Middle East that she first learned about honor killing. From there, Amy began researching honor killing “like [her] life depended on it.” She felt a connection to the women she met and read about through the shared experiences of physical and mental abuse -- commonalities among women across borders, languages, nationalities, and ethnicities. Amy estimates that 20,000 honor killings occur every year worldwide, including North America.

Without knowing it, her research evolved into a healing process allowing her to understand, spread knowledge, and find the roots of how gender-based violence in the form of honor killing became normalized worldwide.

 

The Origins of Honor Violence and the Conspiracy of Silence

Amy discovered that researching honor violence was more difficult than she thought. She found many barriers to discovering its origins – something she describes as a “conspiracy of silence.”

Amy Logan on the TEDxSacramento stage speaking about honor violence.

She explained to the TEDxSacramento audience that, “what I didn’t expect to find was that honor killing appears to be one of the lingering legacies of a pivotal time of transformation in human history that has largely been swept under the rug.”

This “transformation” was the extinction of the “divine feminine” in religious worship throughout the world. Over the last 200,000 years of Homo sapiens, god-worship dominated only in the last 5,000-7,000 years. Before that, goddess worship was the primary form of religion worldwide, even in parts of the world where honor killing is most prevalent.

Many scholars believe cultures that worship goddesses are more likely to hold the status of women in high regard, thus with the loss of the reverence toward goddesses, the role of women forever changed. The loss of women in spiritual positions of power subsequently led to the loss of power of women in other political and social affairs as well. Amy argues that honor killing became socially acceptable following these shifts in perceptions of the value of women.

It Has Not Always Been a Man’s World – Challenging Patriarchal Systems of Today and Yesterday

Amy estimates that nearly 800 million women are affected by honor violence, even more are affected by other forms of gender-based violence. It is Amy’s wish that everyone learn of the revered role of women worldwide that was once lost, but is now realized. It’s in this discovery that our ancestors inspire us to think beyond the world we know today and demand a world we know we deserve.

Expressions of patriarchy do not only come in the form of physical violence. May we look beyond our own assumed histories to find patterns and origins of patriarchy, whether physical, spiritual, mental, or emotional violence, in our own society. Patriarchy seeps from both personal relationships and institutions worldwide; the Untied States is no exception, where women (compared to men) are less often in positions of influence and decision-making.

Whether it’s hanging out with my girlfriends talking about wanting nose jobs to improve our physical appearance or smiling at a sexist remark made by a male co-worker rather than speaking my mind, I unknowingly subscribe to and enforce patriarchy in my society.

Being more conscious about how we interact and live in systems that put women at odds against their potential, simplifying them to subdued creatures of existence, is a start. Take a note from Amy; subscribe to your own form of civil disobedience against patriarchal systems that we assume have always and will always exist. Asking these questions will challenge us and prove that our present does not have to be our future.

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Science Reporter, YouTube Star, Vlogger, Artist (and Much More) Emily Graslie to Speak at TEDxSacramento

We are excited to announce Emily Graslie will speak at the upcoming TEDxSacramento event, “This Changes Everything: WOMEN,” on Friday, December 12, 2014.

Emily Graslie. Photo by: Serri Graslie.

About Emily Graslie

A few years ago, if you were to tell Emily Graslie that she would skin a wolf, smell the trees of Amazonia, or discuss pangolins (bet you never heard of this mammal) on camera as part of her job, she probably would not believe you.

Emily is currently serving as the Chief Curiosity Correspondent for The Field Museum in Chicago, showcasing its collection using short educational videos. How did she get this awesome and interesting gig?

Almost two years ago, Emily began hosting the educational YouTube channel, The Brain Scoop, a witty and fascinating show discussing the world of natural history. Her subject matter is influenced by her experiences sketching specimen and exhibits at museums as an art student. 

In July 2013, Emily and her show relocated to the Field Museum where she is now responsible for sparking public discussion and interest around its collection. It’s not just her endless access to material that make her one of the most interesting female scientists and vloggers on the web, but her curiosity and strong desire to share science with others.

Emily has many ideas worth spreading – reinventing how society consumes, understands and approaches science in a digital age, and showing through example that girls can rook the STEM fields -- science, technology, engineering and math. We can’t wait to hear about them! 

Never be caught ticketless for a TEDxSacramento event: Apply today for a priority invitation to our next event.

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Filmmaker and Director Sarah Menzies to speak at TEDxSacramento

Sarah Menzies. Photographed by Kristin Folsland Olsen. 

It brings us great pleasure to announce that storyteller Sarah Menzies will speak at our sold out event, “This Changes Everything: Women,” on Friday, December 12, 2014.

As a young person, Sarah Menzies dreamed of venturing beyond her small town and discovering the world.

In 2010, that dream came true. Now Sarah is an acclaimed filmmaker and director who brings to life inspiring stories from around the globe.

Sarah has found one simple truth: Some of the most inspiring stories come from the most unexpected places. The only question now is this: Will Sarah find the story before the story finds her?

About Storyteller Sarah Menzies

Included in Sarah’s film credits, among others, are Catch It and the upcoming release, Afghan Cycles.

The documentary film, Afghan Cycles, tells a story of empowerment as it follows the lives of the women of the Afghan Women’s National Cycling Team as they face off against the cultural taboo of riding a bicycle.

The short documentary, Catch It, compels audiences to ‘live simply and follow your passions.’ It was an official selection at the Kendal Mountain Film Festival, the Ojai Film Festival, and the Festival Experience Outdoor Montpellier.

Never be caught ticketless for a TEDxSacramento event: Apply today for a priority invitation to our next event.
 

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Emily Castor on Ride-Sharing, the Sharing Economy and How It Can Change the Capital Region

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By Lauren Herman

Emily Castor, Director of Community Relations, Lyft

On September 26, 2014, at TEDxSacramento’s “This Changes Everything: Seeds of Change” event, Emily Castor spoke about the fascinating evolution of peer-to-peer exchange networks and the sharing economy. Emily is an original Lyft team member who has helped develop the ride-sharing service into what it is today. She currently serves as Lyft’s Director of Community Relations. 

Let’s now take a ride through Emily’s recent talk.

Need a Lyft?: The Ride-Sharing Service

If you have not heard or used the service, Lyft is a ride-sharing service that has popped up in Sacramento. Whether or not you use Lyft, you may be familiar with its iconic symbol, the pink mustache which can be seen on the front of cars driving throughout your neighborhood.

Individuals with the Lyft app can request a “lyft” from a lyft driver who uses his or her own private vehicle to earn a little extra cash while helping out a fellow neighbor through a shared ride. In order to ensure trust between users, both the driver and rider are given the opportunity to rate one another after the service is complete.

Lyft is an example of collaborative consumption supported by trust and accountability made possible through technology and social media. Only top rated drivers and riders are allowed to be a part of this network.  

Ride-Sharing as Part of the Sharing Economy: Not Only Good for the Economy, but for Society and the Soul

It is no surprise that as one of the original Lyft team members and current Director of Community Relations, Emily not only discusses the changes that Lyft has brought to her own life, but points out the many benefits to society as well.

Emily makes the case that ride-sharing services are not only an alternative transportation model for policy makers and urban planners to consider, especially as the urban population continues to grow worldwide. Such examples of collaborative consumption are transformative agents for our economy and culture that move us closer toward what is called the sharing economy.

Audience at TEDxSacramento's "This Changes Everything: Seeds of Change"

The sharing economy is a movement that aims to increase opportunities to share human and physical resources through collaboration and exchange. Activities within the sharing economy include swapping, exchanging, collective consumption and purchasing, recycling, crowdsourcing, co-operatives, renting, shared ownership and pay-as-you-use economy.

Emily goes on to explain that networks and marketplaces developed through the sharing economy, such as Lyft, make entrepreneurism easier than ever before benefiting the American worker and consumer.

She advocates that these opportunities expand employment beyond the conventional cubical and nine to five hour workweek to meet the needs and skillset of individuals. Popular start-ups following the principles of the sharing economy include Kiva, Airbnb, Etsy and Skillshare.          

According to Emily, the social impacts of the sharing economy are just as important as the potential it can create for our economy in Sacramento. Collaborative consumption marketplaces fuel opportunities to connect community members through in person interactions, but also through networks sustained by trust between strangers both next door and on the other side if the world.

Trust between strangers is a hard concept for many. But, communalism and cooperation promoted through the sharing economy are not untraditional, even for America that prides itself on individualism. Ever checked out a book from the library? Do you have a Netflix account?  A large segment of society shares personal information about themselves online using Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

The Case for the Sharing Economy: Another Perspective from the TED Stage

Echoing Emily’s enthusiasm for the societal impact of the sharing economy is fellow TED speaker and researcher Rachel Botsma. Four years ago on the TED stage, Rachel in her TEDTalk, "The Case for Collaborative Consumption," argued that the expansion of the sharing economy is not only inevitable, but an exciting and positive change that satisfies our primal instincts in which cooperation and sharing are necessary for survival.

Rachel states that, “we're taking a leap to create a more sustainable system built to serve our innate needs for community and individual identity. I believe it will be referred to as a revolution, so to speak -- when society, faced with great challenges, made a seismic shift from individual getting and spending towards a rediscovery of collective good.”

In other words, she believes the sharing or collective economy move “us from a culture of "me" to a culture of ‘we’ ” that will benefit humanity in the long run.

After all, if on average a car costs $8,000 a year to maintain, but is only used on average one hour a day, it makes sense economically, but also socially to embrace peer-to-peer exchange networks made possible by the sharing economy that allows us to share resources while saving and making money.

From the TEDxSacramento stage to the State Capital: How is Ride-Sharing Impacting the Capital Region 

Emily brings to the TEDxSacramento stage new ways of thinking that are necessary to cope and plan for our changing Capital Region through the exploration of the sharing economy, particularly Lyft.

California has been a leader in technology and start-ups, so perhaps the golden state will lead the way in the development of ride-sharing and the expansion of what is deemed public transportation.

Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento recently wrote a San Francisco Chronicle article praising the innovation that ride-sharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, bring to cities, such as Sacramento. Simply put, he believes that “ride-sharing works: it works for the drivers and it works for the customers.” But, not everyone is convinced of the speed and direction in which ride-sharing is developing. 

Emily Castor speaking about the sharing economy at TEDxSacramento's "This Changes Everything: Seeds of Change" event on September 26, 2014.

Recent legislation in Sacramento would require ride-sharing companies in California to carry the same insurance as taxi companies. Many criticize that the evolution of ride-sharing is outpacing regulation. Mayor Johnson has responded by stating such efforts would “discourage innovation and force out-of-date thinking on Next Economy companies such as Uber and Lyft.”

Currently, eight out of ten Americans live in an urban environment. Urbanism will continue to be a trend worldwide. According to a United Nations Population fund report, by 2030, six out of 10 people will live in a city. Knowing the inevitable, can every individual own a private vehicle? In the urban century, there are simply not enough resources. Thus, this discussion of alternative transportation models is necessary.  

The Sharing Economy: Your Turn to Give It a Review

Time will only tell the direction and speed of its development, and how governments will respond to the new services and opportunities of the sharing economy.

Fortunately, you have the opportunity to form your own opinion. Consider joining or using the many opportunities of the sharing economy in our Capital Region and beyond.

• Want to learn how to make sushi, but do not have the time to take a full semester course? Join Shareskill, and find someone in your region to share this skill with you.
• Going on vacation soon? Try Airbnb rather than a hotel.
• Avoiding another trip to Ikea because you do not want to assemble another piece of furniture? Hire someone within TaskRabbit with the experience to do it for you. 

Take Emily’s advance; “tap into economic engine that is the human spirit through sharing.” It’s never been easier! These collaborative consumption marketplaces may not only save you money, but also transform our cultures and economies moving us into the global village of the 21st Century.

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TEDxSacramento’s “Seeds of Change”: Changing Our Capital Region One Idea at a Time

By Lauren Herman

Sacramento is ready for a new season -- not just a weather change -- but a new season of TEDxSacramento events!

The first TEDxSacramento Salon event of the 2014/2015 season, entitled “This Changes Everything: Seeds of Change,” took place in the company of more than 600 attendees who spent hours together laughing, sharing and listening to the many speakers, presenters and artists at the Wells Fargo Pavilion on September 26, 2014.

TEDxSacramento speakers (from left to right: Phil America, Emily Castor, Andrew Markell, and Dr. BJ Davis) gather for a group photo before the "Seeds of Change" event on September 26, 2014 at the Wells Fargo Pavilion.

The performers were invited to speak based on their continual efforts to challenge and reimagine the world we live in today. In conjunction with the theme “Seeds of Change,” they offered the audience views and perspectives to spark new ways of thinking, speaking and living in our community.

Some offered life lessons from personal experiences in prison, living in slums both domestically and internationally, studying with Tibetan monks, and trying their hand at entrepreneurism while others offered inspiration through song and movement.

Attendee, Jo Dharshana Balchandra, joined her friends for the night with much enthusiasm stating, "This was the first TEDx event I've been to. It was inspiring to hear the speakers' transformational stories which impacted their lives and their community."

For those of you who did not attend, don’t worry. Good things come to those who wait! The event was filmed live and will become available online shortly for viewing. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements, and you will be able to hear and see for yourself all the great things that took place during TEDxSacramento’s “This Changes Everything: Seeds of Change.”

This salon event is only the beginning! There are two more events planned for the 2014/2015 season with the next event taking place December 2014! Take advantage of these community events – fully-planned and coordinated independently for a localized TED-like experience in the Capital Region. We can’t wait to see you there!

Thank you to the following individuals for their performances at the "Seeds of Change" event: Phil America, Be Brave Bold Robot, Emily Castor, Dr. BJ Davis, Joe Kye and the Sacramento Black Art of Dance, and Andrew Markell.

The following TEDTalks were also featured: “The Voices in My Head” by Eleanor Longden, “How Not to be Ignorant about the World” by Hans and Ola Rosling, and “Get Ready for Hybrid Thinking” by Ray Kurzweil.

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