A Day with TED

       What do you think of when you hear the word “innovation”? “Revolutionary”?  I assume most of us immediately think of technology.  Naturally that is what comes to mind for me.  But let me challenge you to think of innovation in a different way today.  If any of you have been to a TED convention or are well versed in online TED talks, you should know what I’m talking about.  The non-profit TED organization is dedicated to spreading good ideas, many of which have nothing to do with technology.  The world’s best thinkers and doers gather together to give talks under 20 minutes, covering subjects such as philanthropy, environmental issues, arts, ethics, medicine, technology, education, design, etc.  When we challenge the norm with different ways of thinking, eventually change follows and that’s exactly what innovation and revolution seek to do, create change.  Look at our history, even just in the past 50 years.  Cell phones and Ipads created tremendous change in our way of life, but so did shifts in thought.  Raw thoughts and the actions that stem from them have the potential to be so powerful, and that’s what TED is focused on, idea revolutions.

       Throughout my education, I have been exposed to various TED talks.  Most of them were shared in my business classes, but some of my GER’s used them as teaching tools also.  In my last semester I took a Perspectives on Leadership class.  One day mid-semester we watched a TED talk by Drew Dudley called Leading with Lollipops.  The man in this video spoke of leadership, but nothing you would ever expect to hear in a classroom(though it doesn’t surprise me I heard it at SJU).  There was no talk of strategy, strengthening your management skills, or broadening your knowledge of the industry.  His message was simple, short, and very powerful.  I could not even begin to convey his message well enough, so I encourage you to click on the link and find out for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVCBrkrFrBE

Needless to say, this man’s six minute talk is something I will never forget, and something I have continued to pass on since that day in class.  And whether this man’s words reach you the same way they did me, there is something at TED for everyone.  When I found out that there was a TED event in Denver during my time in Colorado, I immediately looked into volunteering.  Volunteering not only gave me direct access to networking opportunities, pre-event gatherings, and free admission, but it also gave me the opportunity to support something that has given me a wealth of inspiration and knowledge on subjects inside and outside of my field.  The theme of the Denver event this year was Values and Instincts, “What happens when our values and instincts align? What happens when they don’t?”  From a leadership perspective, leaders(you, me, that guy, anyone!) line up their actions based on their values, which determines the ultimate impact we will have on the world.  A good leader, I think, takes very careful consideration when determining values.  Not to say that the values ingrained in us throughout our lives are wrong, but we constantly run into situations that make us question these values.  A good person, a good leader, recognizes when something does not serve them or those around them, and adjusts accordingly.

My TED experience started the evening before the event.  Volunteers were invited to the VIP cocktail reception, where local food and brew was served.  In addition to free, yummy food, I had the opportunity to mingle with all of the other volunteers, VIP attendees, TED partners, and speakers.  Amongst some great conversation, I had the pleasure of meeting 3 really incredible people.  The first was Jeremy Duhon, the founder and curator of TEDxMileHigh.  This man, selected as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Young Professionals in Colorado, is much of the reason why this local TED event exists.  I then met Libby Birky, a cofounder of SAME(so all may eat) Café.  For those of you who are familiar with the JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank, NJ, this is where Jon Bon Jovi found his inspiration.  It is an organic, locally sourced, healthy non-profit restaurant that operates under the “pay-what-you-can” model.  There are no prices on the menu, but at the end of your meal it is suggested to make a donation so that the establishment may continue to serve the community.  If you do not have funds to pay, you can donate your time and volunteer in the restaurant!  A few years ago I suggested to my family that we spend my birthday at JBJ Soul Kitchen.  Best birthday dinner experience I have ever had.  If you haven’t already taken a trip to Soul Kitchen, I would highly suggest doing so whenever you get the chance.  Finally, I ended my evening talking to Rachel Johnsen, the founder and CEO of the International Association of Women Small Business Owners.  An amazing, very driven individual  who has helped many women create success in their small businesses.

The next day is when all of the fun began.  I arrived in the morning to help set up and check in guests.  Each attendee received a program and a nametag.  The nametags were all printed on seed paper, which allows you to plant them in your garden when you get home.  What an awesome new twist on recycling!

The first two hours of the day were all about exhibitors.  Dozens of exhibits were set up outside the theater displaying new products, services, ideas, works of art, and local food.  The exhibitors were just as amazing as the speakers that day.  It gave volunteers and attendees the chance to be in a more social environment, engaging in activities and interacting with speakers.  It would take days to describe each of the exhibits, so I will just tell you about my favorites.  The first was non-profit Mountain2Mountain founded by Shannon Galpin, a rape survivor, mother and the first woman to mountain bike in Afghanistan.  This organization empowers women in conflict regions, through education and opportunity, to stand as agents for change in their culture and communities.  Next to this exhibit was Azure Furniture Co, which uses beetle-kill pine to create local, handmade furniture.  There are millions of acres of dead trees in Colorado as a result of bark beetle infestation.  The structure of the logs are not altered by this, which makes it useful for furniture production.  Unfortunately, companies are still cutting down acres of living trees.  Rather than follow the trend, Azure uses a more environmentally sustainable approach.  They use all Colorado-sourced beetle-kill pine for their furniture and practically everything added to the wood is sustainable too; all steel is recycled, finishes and coating are formaldehyde-free and laminates are made from recycled paper.  Next was Public Coffee, a mobile coffee shop.  I approached this exhibit expecting to sip on some tasty local coffee, but there was a catch.   I had to find someone to drink it with.  Each cup of coffee is strung to another cup with a conversation prompt.  Public Coffee visits various neighborhoods in Denver in a trailer equipped with a stage, PA system and projector.  These amenities are there for anyone to utilize.  Perhaps you want to hold a business meeting, or a study group; Public Coffee has you covered!  In addition, monetary payment is not required for a cup of whatever local roaster they are serving that day.  Much like SAME Café, they work off of a “pay what you can-pay it forward” model.

Just before the day was over I met my favorite exhibitor, ReWork.  I walked up to the table covered in paper and read, “What do you refuse to settle for?”.  Instantly intrigued, I grabbed a marker, wrote down my answer and inquired as to what they were educating the crowd about.   ReWork is an organization that connects skilled people, who want to make positive social and environmental impact, with employers that want this kind of talent.  Meaningful work is not exactly a piece of cake to find.  Luckily I have found some platforms such as the Net Impact and B-Corp job boards that post such opportunities.  But ReWork is slightly different from that.  Think emplyee/employer matchmaker rather than job board.  Instead of ending up in a deep pool of resumes, ReWork puts you in direct contact with hiring managers given there is a good match between the two.  Clearly this was my favorite because it is something I can utilize. But the icing on the cake is that ReWork is in the process of expanding their network with B-Lab(the non-profit that certifies Benefit Corporations)!  The dozens of other exhibitors at TED that day all had amazing things to share.  Some of them include… Denver B-Cycle, the city’s bike share program; Skratch Labs, an athletic hydration and fuel company; Design Case, upcycling education program; WalkDenver, dedicated to making Denver more walk-able; Walk2Connect, offering walking tours to promote health and community; And Gates Carbon Drive, a company that makes a chainless bike!

Undoubtedly, TED would be a great event with just the exhibits, but great becomes incredible when you throw in the food and the speakers.  The speakers started around 1pm, but before the volunteers shuffled into the theater, we ran out to the food trucks that were serving the event to grab some lunch.  I ended up at Queiro Arepas, for no other reason than it smelled really good.  With one look at the menu I found out that this truck was gluten free, almost zero waste(no bottled water, lids, straws, etc), local, organic and healthy.  Nothing could have ruined my day at this point!  Following lunch, we made our way into the theater and began listening to the amazing line-up of speakers.  Like the exhibits, there are far too many to describe in detail so I will stick to a few favorites.  Fortunately, in the spirit of spreading good ideas to as many people as possible, most TED talks are just a click away even if you did not attend the event.  I was especially captured by the words and ideas of Adam Brock and Ned Breslin. Adam Brock, urban permaculturalist, is the co-founder and director of operations at The GrowHaus, a non-profit indoor farm just outside of Denver.  The GrowHaus seeks to connect people to their ecosystems through the use of a community driven food system.  By providing healthy, affordable food to the community, they hope to raise awareness on sustainability and food justice.  In addition to this, Adam spoke about the importance of consuming food grown naturally in our local ecosystems.  Our reliance upon foods grown and processed in other parts of the country and the world is not sustainable.  I could not agree with him more, keep it local!  Ned Breslin, another speaker, is the CEO of Water for People.  This organization creates solutions for building and maintaining reliable safe water systems around the world.  It creates long term solutions by using local resources and local support systems(to avoid external dependency) and monitors these solutions for at least 10 years post-project.  But the majority of his talk was more general, addressing a bigger global aid issue.  Efforts to solve global problems need to be locally sustained, recorded, have transparency about results, and provide easily gathered data that is simple to understand.

In addition to Adam and Ned, several other speakers took the stage on a variety of subjects.  Just to name a few… Easton Lachappelle, a 17 year old working towards a new, affordable future of prosthetics;  Molina Speaks, poet/recording artist/college professor/lecturer/activist/social entrepreneur/youth advocate;  Shannon Galpin, Founder of Mountain2Mountain and humanitarian cyclist; Minor Disturbance, helping Denver youth find a voice through poetry and performance.  That doesn’t even touch half of the list of people that spoke and performed, but I think you get the point.  Ideas can be powerful, TED just gives them a louder voice.  So if you have not yet been exposed to beauty of TED, I encourage you to visit the website and start watching talks.  Be greater, expand your mind!  You’ll be glad you did, I promise.  : )

You had me at “Colorado”.

     Throughout my life, I have been blessed with opportunities to travel the world… Australia, Greece, New Zealand, Costa Rica, the Caribbean, Canada, and parts of the US.  My two wonderful parents have jumped at every opportunity to show me and my brother many of the world’s beautiful landscapes and cultures.  Our planet has an incredible array of majestic sights, cities and people, but I feel like we forget and take for granted the beauty that exists here in the United States.  Unfortunately, I do not think pictures do it justice, but our country is jam packed with beautiful natural landscape and history!  Costa Rica was certainly breathtaking with its many different climates and ecosystems, but I have found Colorado to possess some of the same qualities; towering mountains, snow caps, flowing rivers and waterfalls, canyons, deserts and hot springs.   Telluride, a small mountain town nestled inside a box canyon in southwest Colorado, is easily on par with Costa Rica(at least in my opinion).  This was my first stop after Sedona, and I could hardly contain my amazement as I drove through the San Juan Mountains to get there.  On one side of my car flowed the clearest, most beautiful river water I have ever seen, and on the other side was a rock face that hugged every winding turn I drove around.  In all directions jagged mountains seemed to lean in towards me, peaked with snow and painted with every possible natural color you could think of.  Everything seemed so grand and dramatic, and that was just the drive in.  Once I arrived in Telluride, now some 9,000 ft in elevation,  that effect was magnified and I had to stop my car to marvel at it’s magnificence before continuing on to my accommodations. 

     Originally, I had planned on visiting the cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde also in southwest Colorado, but my research landed me in Telluride instead and I am SO glad.  Not only is Telluride a drop dead gorgeous mecca for hikers, bikers and skiiers, it is also very dedicated to sustainability.  With every encounter and inquiry, I learned something new about the sustainability efforts in this community.  While purchasing some fresh produce at the local market, I learned that plastic bags are banned from all establishments and the only chain that exists in town is ACE Hardware(which is a franchise and locally owned).  I was also enlightened about the free gondola powered by wind energy, which transports locals and visitors between the town of Telluride and the ski village in the mountain.  If you are looking for other transportation within town, there is also a program run out of the local library called the Telluride Townies.  This program allows you to check out bikes, just as you would books.  Though the supply is limited, it is an effective bike share program for a small town in which the majority of residents own and regularly use bicycles for transportation.  Streets, parks, lots, and corners were practically stacked with bikes, half of them left unlocked.  Unlocked bikes?!  Madness!  The notion of leaving my bike, my most valued and loved possession, unlocked to the risk of theft makes me cringe.  Perhaps that is just my “east coast” talking, as one local put it.  After conversing with a fellow cyclist in town, I learned that people are very trusting here.  On the rare occasion that a bike goes missing, it is likely that it was borrowed and could be found somewhere on the other side of town within a few days.

     The majority of biking in Telluride is for commuting rather than sport, but I did happen to meet a really wonderful woman named Amie who took me out on a local group ride through the mountains.  If long, steep hills are not your style, then I would not suggest coming to Telluride to bike.  Commuting in town is very easy on flat valley floor roads, but the minute you exit that last traffic circle there is no other option but up.  And up we went!  12 miles out and 12 miles back I struggled to keep pace with the skilled riders I ventured out with.  24 miles on the road in New Jersey is something I quite enjoy and do fairly quickly, but that is at sea level.  It did not take me very long to realize how difficult riding at 9,000 ft elevation is.  After mile 5 it was hard to imagine finishing the mostly uphill ride.  Fortunately I did and the woman who led the group, Becca, held back with me the whole time cheering me up each hill, though she could have easily been miles ahead of me.  On the ride back with some downhill, I could finally breath and we struck up conversation.  I soon found out that this woman and I had crossed paths once before, in New Jersey believe it or not.  Last year I volunteered at a Tough Mudder event that she participated in.  She qualified for and completed the “World’s Toughest Mudder”, which gathers the best of Tough Mudder participants to compete in a much more intense version of the normal race.  She is a truly inspiring individual who I feel very lucky to have met.  I likely would not have pushed myself and finished that ride without her.

     The next day, Amie introduced me to another amazing woman, Kim.  She is the energy coordinator for a local non-profit called EcoAction Partners.  Kim and this group of dedicated individuals spend their time increasing sustainability efforts in Telluride and the surrounding areas.  They focus on initiating and supporting community collaboration on projects involving energy, zero waste and food supply.  Their successful projects are endless and have created such an amazing impact.  I could not even begin to describe them all.  I think I was most intrigued by their CRT program for festivals.  Telluride is famous for hosting festivals that attract people from all around the country, whether it be for yoga, bluegrass, film, beer, etc.  EcoAction has acknowledged the fact that these festivals create an enormous amount of waste, and have implemented this CRT(compost, recycle, trash) program to create a practically zero waste event.  In preparation, coordinators make sure vendors are providing mostly compostable and recyclable items, and during the festival volunteers man these “CRT” stations to ensure proper disposal.  Furthermore, the food at the event is sourced locally and EcoAction booths are set up to further educate festival attendees on sustainability.  As Kim is explaining this to me, I cannot help but wonder if there are efforts like this for festivals in Philadelphia.  I have been to my fair share of concerts on the parkway and parades on Broad St., but I have never taken the time to search out these efforts.  I am conscious of recycling and making sure my trash ends up in a bin and not on the street, but that is certainly not the case for everyone.  There is an alarming number of people who pay no attention to where they throw their waste.  Years ago when I lived right on the parkway, I saw first hand the mess on the streets after an event.  Do clean up crews separate the waste?  Do volunteers direct people to recycling bins?  Is there a composting program?  I would be very interested to learn about this when I return to the city.  And if there is not such a program, how could I get involved in supporting or creating one?  

     Speaking with people in Telluride about sustainability is both refreshing and surprising.  From an outsider perspective, they are ahead of the game and very active in finding new ways to become more locally sustained and environmentally friendly.  But as I spoke with employees, owners of local shops and general residents, they have a very different way of looking at it.  On more than one occasion, dissatisfaction was the overwhelming response.  You can imagine how confusing that was for me as I awed at the progress they have made.  Usually, passion about sustainability and social impact is not hard to find, but the change that comes from it is slow because apathy about these things far outweighs the dedication.  Despite the fact that this is not the case in Telluride, the people here are still not satisfied.  They want to see more people involved, more programs created, more positive impact, and powerful change. How incredible is it that these people demand greatness from everything around them and refuse to settle?  They want to be surrounded by individuals and companies who give a damn about the people they serve, the locale they operate in, and the environment they thrive off of.  Telluride strives to be greater, and that’s the magis isn’t it?

     It’s funny how this word is something I knew nothing of before I went to Saint Joseph’s University, and now it is something I naturally gravitate towards and live by.  This Jesuit ideal of magis, inspired the person I chose to become during and after college, and will continue to inspire the way I live my life.  I think Helen Keller explains it well, “When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another”.  We as human beings possess such power with each choice we make, yet all too often decisions are made without consideration to others and at times ourselves.  Unintentionally we rob ourselves of opportunities to be better human beings or make a difference in someone else’s life.  So why not aim to live greater, in love, in service, in gratitude to yourself and to others?  Easier said than done, I know.  But I feel like there is a moment that we all reach(one would hope), when the meaning of our lives is directly correlated to this.  Without a healthy dose of it, we cease to feel whole.  Settling for less never feels right, but we do it all the time.  I am definitely a firm believer in the Law of Attraction.  Our thoughts and our actions surround us with people who think and act the same.  Seek to be enlightened, reach out a hand, push yourself to be better at everything, laugh a lot, and never stop any of it.  I try to live with this in mind, and many of the people I have encountered here seem to have the same attitude.  If the rest of Colorado is anything like this, I can only imagine what lies ahead of me these next few weeks.  What will I learn, who will I meet next?

 I think I’m going to like it here…

Happy Summer Solstice everyone!

I Never Met a Chocolate I Didn’t Like

     Tomorrow marks a new chapter in my journey across the country.  Sedona has captured my heart for the past 5 weeks, and though I am sad to be leaving, I am far more excited for the strange places that await me.  I have been coming to Sedona since I was a kid; jeep tours up the red rocks, dinners in town, renting mountain bikes, and family movies in the timeshare.  This would be the first time I have stayed so long, with new eyes, and alone.  It is amazing how different somewhere so familiar can look when you walk into it with a new mindset.  To my surprise, I am leaving here with one feeling that I had not expected… While feeling amazed, grounded, grateful, and happy, I am also disappointed.

     Amazed at how vast the beauty of this place is.  There are no limits to what you can discover in Sedona, which makes it such a magical place.  No trip or lifetime could be long enough to see everything it has to offer.  Grounded in my thoughts after having so much time to enjoy stillness.  Sedona has not only showed me it’s beauty, but it has taught me that taking time to breathe, to see, feel, and hear what is right in front of us is just as wonderful as exploring.  When we take the time to be conscious of our senses and our thoughts, first world problems and small stresses become unimportant.   Grateful and happy for having the opportunity to be in this beautiful place, for having my good health to do those strenuous hikes and rides, for having a family(who I miss more than anything) who supports me no matter where I choose to go or what I choose to do, and for friends who will be there to embrace me when I arrive home.  And finally, disappointed.  While the primary goal of my trip is to just enjoy and explore, the other part of my trip is to learn and immerse myself into good business.  Sedona is all about natural beauty, taking care of the earth, and being kind.  I fully expected to stumble upon dozens of companies and establishments that share the values of sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility.  What I found instead was a LACK of that. 

     I leave Sedona feeling very confused about this. On one hand it preaches high consciousness, but on the other, there are no actions that follow.  Many businesses in town talk the talk, but a closer look at operations tells a different story.  My favorite are the businesses that sell a “green” product, but are not green themselves.  Obviously this does not apply to all businesses in Sedona.  ChocolaTree, which I will discuss in a moment, happens to be very conscious of their impact and have practices in place that reflect it.  It is because of this “face” that companies put on, that I am even more interested in learning about certified Benefit Corporations.  Before this trip, a professor and some old classmates of mine planted the seed of curiosity by introducing me to the concept of these corporations.  Unfortunately, I left for my trip before learning much more than the basics of it.  So in my free time, whilst drinking some of the best damn Mayan hot-cocoa I have ever had, I did some research.  B-Corps, “use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems”.  They remove the uncertainty of false claims by holding all businesses that are certified, to high sustainability and ethical standards.  Some of the business standards measured are transparency, social and environmental performance and accountability.  Want proof that the companies you interact with are actually making that positive impact and those responsible choices? Look for the B Certified label!  There are so many companies in the world that are currently certified, and so many more that could be.  Without even knowing it, I am sure I have shopped or interacted with some of these companies.  I just wish I had known to look for the certification.  After reading about quite a few of them, I learned that although they all meet the minimum standards, each is unique in their practices.  Whether one company has a higher focus on the environment and another has prioritized community outreach, there is something new to learn from each of them. 

     Despite the fun I have had here in Arizona, I am even more excited to move on because Colorado is FULL of B Corps. So is California and Oregon!  I am hoping to meet with a handful of them in each of the states I visit from here on out.  Unfortunately, my travel timeline and the busy schedules of the people who work for these companies, makes it very difficult to schedule these visits/interviews.  But why let that keep me from my mission?  If I can meet with a few, great! But if it doesn’t work out, I can still use my power as a consumer and conscious citizen.  Not only can I support these B-Corps by giving them business, but I can also learn about them indirectly by opening my eyes and ears during each experience.  And of course by asking questions.  A good friend of mine recently blogged about one of life’s best lessons, “don’t be afraid to ask questions”.  I couldn’t agree with her more that all too often, we fail to do so.  Well, if there is one thing I have learned about traveling alone, it is that asking questions is what highlighted my experiences tenfold.  Had I not taken chances to speak to people I wouldn’t normally interact with, I wouldn’t have made such amazing new friends, or visited places I didn’t know existed.  Strangers are not so strange or scary after all.  Of course I trust my instincts, but by removing judgments and expectations, I have had the most beautiful moments and learned so much from these people.  Questions are a thing of beauty.  You never know what you could be missing out on, unless you ask! 

     One place I found myself chatting up a storm was ChocolaTree, a small organic eatery that serves vegetarian and vegan food. Ninety-five percent of the menu is seasonal and local, as ChocolaTree is very conscious of transportation fuel, packaging, etc.  The five percent that is not local/seasonal, is out of absolute necessity.  When sourcing the non-local ingredients such as cacao for the chocolate made in their on-site chocolate factory, they work directly with the small farms that produce it.  Also, in an effort to support the communities of these small farms, they partake in sustainability programs for their direct benefit.   Along with their unbelievable selection of chocolate, they serve a variety of drinks, entrees, and desserts.  Each is made fresh with love and leaves you feeling incredible, as if the vibes here didn’t do enough of that.  Everything in the establishment is 100 percent recyclable and 80 percent post-consumer recycled.  When I say everything, I mean everything; toilet paper, to-go containers, the menu, business cards, napkins, labels, chocolate bags, etc.  To further minimize their impact, all of their cleaning products are natural and they use digital newsletters as often as possible over printed promotions.  And as if their chocolate case was not enough to look at, there is also a small marketplace lining the hallway out to the garden.  This market includes goods handcrafted from indigenous tribes that they work with directly, ethically harvested crystals, ecologically and sustainably sourced jewelry, and clothing made from sustainable, U.S.A. made fabrics by “Fed By Threads”.  The purchase of one Fed by Threads shirt, supplies 12 meals to hungry Americans.  Awesome, right?!  Well it gets better.  After the walk through the market and a very failed attempt at shopping resistance, a beautiful garden awaits, equipped with tables for eating and hammocks for soaking in the good energy.  It is not only a beautiful place to look at, but this garden also serves as ChocolaTree’s small food forest(supplying everything from fruits to nuts based on the season).  And in this beautiful oasis, they offer free garden forums to teach others about how to plant their own.  Perhaps that is what I love most about this place.  Not only do they create an unbelievable example of good business, but they want to teach others how to do it too!  They provide all of their recipes to the public, they teach the community how to garden, and the owners had absolutely no problem discussing with me their business model, among many other things that have made them so successful in Sedona.  ChocolaTree served as my hot spot during my stay here.  When friends came to visit, when I made a new friend, or when I simply wanted to nourish my body with healthy, vibrant food, this is where I came.  And amongst all of the eating and socializing with familiar faces, I have met some incredible strangers here as well!

Here are some of the beautiful moments I have encountered in Sedona.  I will be forever grateful for what this place has shown me….Izzy and I on top of Bell Rock.  I started each of my mornings in Sedona, right there, reading.

The back of Boyton Canyon in West Sedona.  Stunning 6 mile hike.

The top of Cathedral Rock with my dear friends Izzy and Shaun, and two very kind reiki practitioners we met from Taiwan!

     I sit here in ChocolaTree writing this, as I prepare to leave tomorrow morning.  Telluride, Colorado will be the next stop in my journey. With absolutely no expectations of what lies ahead of me, I leave with an open mind, open heart, and desire to soak up every bit of knowledge I can.  

“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get”- well, Forrest Gump, I couldn’t think of anything more exciting! : )

Back to the open road I go!