Oh man, where do I even begin?? This past weekend was amazing, gratifying, and surreal.
Getting to give a TED Talk about storytelling as a force for change was an experience I’ll always smile about. So many people to thank.
First, the TEDx San Diego family. What a diverse, dynamic, and exciting crew to be a part of… can’t wait to see where all your journeys go from here. To Audrey Jacobs in particular for encouraging me to apply after my CreativeMornings talk and pouring a TON of love into this TED chapter… Invitation is your superpower! From the field trips to the speaker dinners, the whole thing was like a love letter to San Diego and the global reach of this city. Also to Jami, for all the speaker coaching, Amy for the marketing, and Olivia for all the support.
THEN… to the people of Burundi, Tanzania, Haiti, Bangladesh, Thailand, and all the other places that were referenced in my talk or influenced my work. This was your stage. Especially Enos and Antwan in Mutsindozi. The world needs to hear your stories. I really mean that. Your posture towards confronting daunting challenges is what we all need to learn from. I don’t take for granted your generosity and vulnerability in storytelling.
Finally, lots of love and thanks to everyone who streamed in, texted me kindness throughout the day, and supported me. Especially to my mom for looking after the littles so Deanna could spend the day in TED Town, and to @deanna.suzanna for unwavering support and keeping three kids alive while I was in Africa getting the stories I shared on stage!
Video should be published in several weeks. Best believe I’ll be sharing!
Event photos: @summerkias_photo_design
Hair & Makeup: @frangeli.na
