Featured Talk: Save What You Love by Jonathan Franzen
TEDxSantaCruz is excited to announce the release of local resident and renowned writer and essayist Jonathan Franzen’s TEDxSantaCruz 2019 talk about climate crisis and the urgent need for humanity to adapt to current realities of the Anthropocene, including the sixth mass extinction. Entitled Save What You Love, he invites us to acknowledge harsh facts of the climate crisis, and to work fiercely and urgently to preserve as much of the planet’s biodiversity even as efforts to mitigate the crisis continue.Featured Talk: “In the Dark” | August Lee Stevens & Angela Chambers
Angela Chambers and August Lee Stevens blend song & dance. August’s indie soul & folk music pairs with Angela’s interpretive dance. August, a musician & singer-songwriter, tells intimate stories through her indie soul and folk music. She recently released her debut EP, Better Places, with Women’s Audio Mission (WAM). Angela is a community leader and dance artist focusing on personal transformation & social activism at Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center & the Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative.
Cross-cultural connection through the night sky | César Rojas-Bravo
The Power of Networks | Alex Chavez-Guerrero, Jacob Martinez & Martín Vargas-Vega |
Networks uplift underprivileged communities, from farmworker areas to Silicon Valley. Collective support, mentorship, and philanthropy breaks barriers, ignites success and resilience. Jacob Martinez, founder of Digital NEST, empowers rural youth, including Latina girls in computer science. Alex Chavez-Guerrero, a Watsonville-based software engineer, advocates for social capital impact at DigitalNEST. Martín Vargas-Vega, a philanthropist and software engineer, leads Latinos In Tech; overseeing grant distributions to Latinx-led nonprofits.
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“In the Dark” | August Lee Stevens & Angela Chambers
Angela Chambers and August Lee Stevens blend song & dance. August’s indie soul & folk music pairs with Angela’s interpretive dance. August, a musician & singer-songwriter, tells intimate stories through her indie soul and folk music. She recently released her debut EP, Better Places, with Women’s Audio Mission (WAM). Angela is a community leader and dance artist focusing on personal transformation & social activism at Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center & the Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative.
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The Rise of Tiny News | Kara Meyberg Guzman
As traditional newspapers shrink and disappear, a reinvention of local journalism is underway. Across the U.S., independent entrepreneurs are redefining the mission, scope, and delivery of local news to serve their communities. Kara Meyberg Guzman, CEO and co-founder of Santa Cruz Local, shares why this moment is full of hope. Kara Meyberg Guzman prioritizes serving marginalized communities through fair, accurate, and accessible news. As board president of the Tiny News Collective, a national nonprofit, she supports early-stage news entrepreneurs aiming to serve their communities, believing in the power of local media to elevate diverse voices for effective local democracy.
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Embrace the Rain for Climate Change | Nicole Beck
Climate change is a major threat to our generation. Dr. Nicole Beck highlights rainwater's transformative power for community resilience. With a Ph.D. in aquatic chemistry, she brings science to decision-makers. As CEO of a tech firm, she uses stormwater GIS software to help local governments and landowners manage urban runoff, focusing on informed land management and water resource protection.
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Changing the Game: Our Future Economy | Maria Cadenas
Immersive Narratives for Climate Awareness | Juliano Calil
Virtual Reality vividly showcases climate change threats like wildfires, heat waves, and rising sea levels. Dr. Juliano Calil uses immersive storytelling to raise awareness, engage audiences, and inspire climate action. As a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy and Adjunct Professor at the Middlebury Institute, he pioneers science communication. With a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz, he collaborates on innovative solutions for coastal flooding, wildfires, and heatwaves.
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How starting a ‘hope club’ can help us grieve | Daisy Nuñez | TEDxSantaCruz
Daisy Nuñez, a high school counselor and daughter of farm workers, leads The Hope Club, a grief support group at Watsonville High School and Hartnell College. A thanatologist and Hospice board member, she uses her expertise to help those dealing with loss. Outside work, she volunteers at Saint Patrick’s Church, travels, and values family time.
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A NEW Fashion Trend That Can Save the Earth
Stephen-Will Weir advocates for the Slow Fashion movement, emphasizing mindful consumption for personal, economic, and environmental benefits. A sustainability expert, he's committed to waste reduction and forest conservation. Based in Santa Cruz, Stephen's lifestyle includes outdoor activities and promoting sustainable living.
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