so I started my work as an IT consultant so I was the guy that was actually up
so I was the guy that was actually up
so I was the guy that was actually up here like fixing your computers and
here like fixing your computers and
here like fixing your computers and setting for these screens but the
setting for these screens but the
setting for these screens but the interesting thing is my life took a big
interesting thing is my life took a big
interesting thing is my life took a big turn after I did a TED presentation and
turn after I did a TED presentation and
turn after I did a TED presentation and talking about the work I did in my
talking about the work I did in my
talking about the work I did in my neighborhood but a lot of things
neighborhood but a lot of things
neighborhood but a lot of things happened to me after that but just to
happened to me after that but just to
happened to me after that but just to kind of go back and tell you some of the
kind of go back and tell you some of the
kind of go back and tell you some of the stories of things that I did in the
stories of things that I did in the
stories of things that I did in the neighborhood really early projects where
neighborhood really early projects where
neighborhood really early projects where I had an old theater in Oak Cliff which
I had an old theater in Oak Cliff which
I had an old theater in Oak Cliff which is a neighborhood here in Dallas that
is a neighborhood here in Dallas that
is a neighborhood here in Dallas that where we’ve been stigmatized as the bad
where we’ve been stigmatized as the bad
where we’ve been stigmatized as the bad part of town for years and we had this
part of town for years and we had this
part of town for years and we had this old building that I would look at all
old building that I would look at all
old building that I would look at all the time and think of how can we bring
the time and think of how can we bring
the time and think of how can we bring this back to life and when I would talk
this back to life and when I would talk
this back to life and when I would talk to the Board of Directors that was
to the Board of Directors that was
to the Board of Directors that was trying to raise money he said we were
trying to raise money he said we were
trying to raise money he said we were having a hard time raising the millions
having a hard time raising the millions
having a hard time raising the millions of dollars that’s needed because there’s
of dollars that’s needed because there’s
of dollars that’s needed because there’s not a lot of philanthropy in our area
not a lot of philanthropy in our area
not a lot of philanthropy in our area because people think of this as the bad
because people think of this as the bad
because people think of this as the bad part of town so I thought well why don’t
part of town so I thought well why don’t
part of town so I thought well why don’t we gather just the community together
we gather just the community together
we gather just the community together and see if we can do something to change
and see if we can do something to change
and see if we can do something to change it so we realized we had a lot of people
it so we realized we had a lot of people
it so we realized we had a lot of people in our neighborhood a lot of artists so
in our neighborhood a lot of artists so
in our neighborhood a lot of artists so we brought a hundred friends out and
we brought a hundred friends out and
we brought a hundred friends out and said why don’t we get everyone to paint
said why don’t we get everyone to paint
said why don’t we get everyone to paint one piece of art each and then we’ll
one piece of art each and then we’ll
one piece of art each and then we’ll open up the theater and make it to an
open up the theater and make it to an
open up the theater and make it to an instant art gallery the next night and
instant art gallery the next night and
instant art gallery the next night and so we gathered people together and then
so we gathered people together and then
so we gathered people together and then moments before about to the doors we
moments before about to the doors we
moments before about to the doors we thought ok this is gonna be an abject
thought ok this is gonna be an abject
thought ok this is gonna be an abject failure like this is the middle of
failure like this is the middle of
failure like this is the middle of winter it’s a theater that’s been closed
winter it’s a theater that’s been closed
winter it’s a theater that’s been closed for 10 years and it’s in the bad side of
for 10 years and it’s in the bad side of
for 10 years and it’s in the bad side of town but when we open the doors we had
town but when we open the doors we had
town but when we open the doors we had 700 people show up and we sold every
700 people show up and we sold every
700 people show up and we sold every piece of art that we had created the
piece of art that we had created the
piece of art that we had created the night before so after that I was excited
night before so after that I was excited
night before so after that I was excited about other projects we take on so I
about other projects we take on so I
about other projects we take on so I looked at old maps in my neighborhood
looked at old maps in my neighborhood
looked at old maps in my neighborhood started trying to figure out like how
started trying to figure out like how
started trying to figure out like how can we get things happening again
can we get things happening again
can we get things happening again because we need more economics and
because we need more economics and
because we need more economics and people we’re talking about the
people we’re talking about the
people we’re talking about the businesses we need and things weren’t
businesses we need and things weren’t
businesses we need and things weren’t occurring anymore so I started looking
occurring anymore so I started looking
occurring anymore so I started looking about what what we used to have and
about what what we used to have and
about what what we used to have and realize we just have an old trolley
realize we just have an old trolley
realize we just have an old trolley system so I talked to some people at the
system so I talked to some people at the
system so I talked to some people at the Chamber of Commerce’s and other meetings
Chamber of Commerce’s and other meetings
Chamber of Commerce’s and other meetings and said I’ve got an idea why don’t we
and said I’ve got an idea why don’t we
and said I’ve got an idea why don’t we bring back our trolley car system and
bring back our trolley car system and
bring back our trolley car system and they said that’s crazy it’s been gone
they said that’s crazy it’s been gone
they said that’s crazy it’s been gone for half a century you just can’t bring
for half a century you just can’t bring
for half a century you just can’t bring those back but I didn’t know much about
those back but I didn’t know much about
those back but I didn’t know much about streetcars but I knew a lot about a
streetcars but I knew a lot about a
streetcars but I knew a lot about a building website because I was an IT guy
building website because I was an IT guy
building website because I was an IT guy so I went home that night I built a fake
so I went home that night I built a fake
so I went home that night I built a fake website called the Oak Cliff Transit
website called the Oak Cliff Transit
website called the Oak Cliff Transit Authority he looked really official and
Authority he looked really official and
Authority he looked really official and I had European trams and all this kind
I had European trams and all this kind
I had European trams and all this kind of great information on the site and
of great information on the site and
of great information on the site and then the next week the Dallas Morning
then the next week the Dallas Morning
then the next week the Dallas Morning News did a story called dreaming of the
News did a story called dreaming of the
News did a story called dreaming of the day the streetcars returned that’s what
day the streetcars returned that’s what
day the streetcars returned that’s what Jason Roberts and other members of the
Jason Roberts and other members of the
Jason Roberts and other members of the recently formed Oak Cliff Transit
recently formed Oak Cliff Transit
recently formed Oak Cliff Transit Authority are hoping but there were no
Authority are hoping but there were no
Authority are hoping but there were no other members but what happened is
other members but what happened is
other members but what happened is shorter order was I had people in my
shorter order was I had people in my
shorter order was I had people in my neighborhood call me and said we want to
neighborhood call me and said we want to
neighborhood call me and said we want to get involved we want to
get involved we want to
get involved we want to help we want to see what we can do to
help we want to see what we can do to
help we want to see what we can do to take part in this project and we started
take part in this project and we started
take part in this project and we started applying for grants around the around
applying for grants around the around
applying for grants around the around the country and we found one grant
the country and we found one grant
the country and we found one grant called the tiger grant
called the tiger grant
called the tiger grant and we were told we told the city of
and we were told we told the city of
and we were told we told the city of Dallas like look we want to apply for
Dallas like look we want to apply for
Dallas like look we want to apply for this grant they said good luck Oh cliff
this grant they said good luck Oh cliff
this grant they said good luck Oh cliff apply it all you want so we said okay
apply it all you want so we said okay
apply it all you want so we said okay let’s see what it will happen
let’s see what it will happen
let’s see what it will happen we had a point three percent chance of
we had a point three percent chance of
we had a point three percent chance of getting any money whatsoever but what
getting any money whatsoever but what
getting any money whatsoever but what occurred was we won millions of dollars
occurred was we won millions of dollars
occurred was we won millions of dollars and it’s not taking decades to bring the
and it’s not taking decades to bring the
and it’s not taking decades to bring the streetcar back it’s back again now this
streetcar back it’s back again now this
streetcar back it’s back again now this is a picture of us riding with the
is a picture of us riding with the
is a picture of us riding with the streetcar here again just last year so
streetcar here again just last year so
streetcar here again just last year so the last project that one that really
the last project that one that really
the last project that one that really defined my career now was this idea of
defined my career now was this idea of
defined my career now was this idea of looking at the blocks in her
looking at the blocks in her
looking at the blocks in her neighborhood and trying to understand
neighborhood and trying to understand
neighborhood and trying to understand what’s causing them to have problems and
what’s causing them to have problems and
what’s causing them to have problems and realizing that a lot of them had high
realizing that a lot of them had high
realizing that a lot of them had high vacancies we had empty streets we had no
vacancies we had empty streets we had no
vacancies we had empty streets we had no landscaping the zoning had been changed
landscaping the zoning had been changed
landscaping the zoning had been changed from light from retail to light
from light from retail to light
from light from retail to light industrial and then we created all these
industrial and then we created all these
industrial and then we created all these laws and rules that either made it
laws and rules that either made it
laws and rules that either made it illegal or cost prohibitive to make
illegal or cost prohibitive to make
illegal or cost prohibitive to make these places come to life so if we went
these places come to life so if we went
these places come to life so if we went in flowers on the sidewalk it was $1,000
in flowers on the sidewalk it was $1,000
in flowers on the sidewalk it was $1,000 in permitting if we want to have cafes
in permitting if we want to have cafes
in permitting if we want to have cafes $1,000 and it was illegal for crowds to
$1,000 and it was illegal for crowds to
$1,000 and it was illegal for crowds to gather so we realized it was illegal for
gather so we realized it was illegal for
gather so we realized it was illegal for us to do anything to make this place
us to do anything to make this place
us to do anything to make this place come to life on its own so what would
come to life on its own so what would
come to life on its own so what would happen if we broke every law we possibly
happen if we broke every law we possibly
happen if we broke every law we possibly could to make this the kind of block we
could to make this the kind of block we
could to make this the kind of block we wish we would always had so that’s what
wish we would always had so that’s what
wish we would always had so that’s what we did we painted her own bike lanes
we did we painted her own bike lanes
we did we painted her own bike lanes we added her own cafe seating we painted
we added her own cafe seating we painted
we added her own cafe seating we painted murals on the buildings we took the
murals on the buildings we took the
murals on the buildings we took the empty buildings and we put businesses
empty buildings and we put businesses
empty buildings and we put businesses that we wish we always had so coffee
that we wish we always had so coffee
that we wish we always had so coffee shops flower shops bookstores art spaces
shops flower shops bookstores art spaces
shops flower shops bookstores art spaces and then we printed off the laws and the
and then we printed off the laws and the
and then we printed off the laws and the rules we were breaking we invited our
rules we were breaking we invited our
rules we were breaking we invited our city staff and our mayor out thinking
city staff and our mayor out thinking
city staff and our mayor out thinking like okay we’re probably all going to go
like okay we’re probably all going to go
like okay we’re probably all going to go to jail but what happened was they said
to jail but what happened was they said
to jail but what happened was they said this is a much better block and we’d
this is a much better block and we’d
this is a much better block and we’d much rather have things like this occur
much rather have things like this occur
much rather have things like this occur and we have saw a lot of things happen
and we have saw a lot of things happen
and we have saw a lot of things happen afterwards a lot of these businesses
afterwards a lot of these businesses
afterwards a lot of these businesses started to stick we started to see the
started to stick we started to see the
started to stick we started to see the zoning rules change and think momentum
zoning rules change and think momentum
zoning rules change and think momentum occurred around our community based on
occurred around our community based on
occurred around our community based on this little project so one of the things
this little project so one of the things
this little project so one of the things that I started learning was this idea of
that I started learning was this idea of
that I started learning was this idea of like we need to start get away from our
like we need to start get away from our
like we need to start get away from our Dallas’s motto of think big and maybe
Dallas’s motto of think big and maybe
Dallas’s motto of think big and maybe because what think big does for us right
because what think big does for us right
because what think big does for us right now is it means we’re gonna take a
now is it means we’re gonna take a
now is it means we’re gonna take a hundred million dollars and spin it on
hundred million dollars and spin it on
hundred million dollars and spin it on this this giant bridge that we hope
this this giant bridge that we hope
this this giant bridge that we hope that’s gonna bring out a hundred little
that’s gonna bring out a hundred little
that’s gonna bring out a hundred little things in our neighborhood but what we
things in our neighborhood but what we
things in our neighborhood but what we found is the reality the places that I
found is the reality the places that I
found is the reality the places that I love around the world whether it’s in
love around the world whether it’s in
love around the world whether it’s in New York or Paris or New Orleans there
New York or Paris or New Orleans there
New York or Paris or New Orleans there are these little blocks I go to all the
are these little blocks I go to all the
are these little blocks I go to all the time that have this little coffee shops
time that have this little coffee shops
time that have this little coffee shops and flower shops and bookstores and it’s
and flower shops and bookstores and it’s
and flower shops and bookstores and it’s a community we can create a hundred
a community we can create a hundred
a community we can create a hundred little things a lot faster than we do
little things a lot faster than we do
little things a lot faster than we do these one big things that we hope make a
these one big things that we hope make a
these one big things that we hope make a lot of little things and we found we can
lot of little things and we found we can
lot of little things and we found we can use special things from the hardware
use special things from the hardware
use special things from the hardware store
store
store simple thing from the hardware store so
simple thing from the hardware store so
simple thing from the hardware store so white duct tape looks just like the
white duct tape looks just like the
white duct tape looks just like the thermoplastic paint the city’s used to
thermoplastic paint the city’s used to
thermoplastic paint the city’s used to paint stripes in the ground we can use
paint stripes in the ground we can use
paint stripes in the ground we can use straw wattles that they use to keep
straw wattles that they use to keep
straw wattles that they use to keep erosion and trash out of the gutters
erosion and trash out of the gutters
erosion and trash out of the gutters during construction and make new curbs
during construction and make new curbs
during construction and make new curbs we can take the graphics on city buses
we can take the graphics on city buses
we can take the graphics on city buses and we can make crosswalks then we can
and we can make crosswalks then we can
and we can make crosswalks then we can go look at intersections that are too
go look at intersections that are too
go look at intersections that are too wide and we can talk to the city and say
wide and we can talk to the city and say
wide and we can talk to the city and say this one intersection is too fast and
this one intersection is too fast and
this one intersection is too fast and too scary and we want to fix it they’ll
too scary and we want to fix it they’ll
too scary and we want to fix it they’ll say it’s gonna take millions of dollars
say it’s gonna take millions of dollars
say it’s gonna take millions of dollars in years to fix and we say don’t worry
in years to fix and we say don’t worry
in years to fix and we say don’t worry about it we’ll do it ourselves over a
about it we’ll do it ourselves over a
about it we’ll do it ourselves over a weekend like this now
weekend like this now
weekend like this now so since that time we started getting
so since that time we started getting
so since that time we started getting all these people calling us around the
all these people calling us around the
all these people calling us around the country to help them with their own
country to help them with their own
country to help them with their own projects and they started asking these
projects and they started asking these
projects and they started asking these questions like well how do you end up
questions like well how do you end up
questions like well how do you end up breaking all these rules and laws I
breaking all these rules and laws I
breaking all these rules and laws I thought I said you know I find it can
thought I said you know I find it can
thought I said you know I find it can break any rule you want as long as you
break any rule you want as long as you
break any rule you want as long as you were an orange vest and our work started
were an orange vest and our work started
were an orange vest and our work started going crazy all round in the country so
going crazy all round in the country so
going crazy all round in the country so a lot of things started happening for us
a lot of things started happening for us
a lot of things started happening for us we started people from Memphis calling
we started people from Memphis calling
we started people from Memphis calling us people in Baltimore started calling
us people in Baltimore started calling
us people in Baltimore started calling us people in Florida and so we realized
us people in Florida and so we realized
us people in Florida and so we realized we had something going on here and we
we had something going on here and we
we had something going on here and we needed to build on this and then the
needed to build on this and then the
needed to build on this and then the next year the project went all the way
next year the project went all the way
next year the project went all the way around the world so went from Melbourne
around the world so went from Melbourne
around the world so went from Melbourne Australia to Tehran Iran and when people
Australia to Tehran Iran and when people
Australia to Tehran Iran and when people in Tehran and called and asked about
in Tehran and called and asked about
in Tehran and called and asked about breaking laws were like I don’t know
breaking laws were like I don’t know
breaking laws were like I don’t know about breaking laws and Tehran Iran and
about breaking laws and Tehran Iran and
about breaking laws and Tehran Iran and then other great things started
then other great things started
then other great things started happening beyond that so we started
happening beyond that so we started
happening beyond that so we started getting to have dinner with dinners with
getting to have dinner with dinners with
getting to have dinner with dinners with the first lady
the first lady
the first lady we started a restaurant with neighbors
we started a restaurant with neighbors
we started a restaurant with neighbors and friends from our better block
and friends from our better block
and friends from our better block projects I decided to run for US
projects I decided to run for US
projects I decided to run for US Congress because we had a free April so
Congress because we had a free April so
Congress because we had a free April so all these cool things were happening and
all these cool things were happening and
all these cool things were happening and thinking well what can stop us what can
thinking well what can stop us what can
thinking well what can stop us what can we can transform anything in our
we can transform anything in our
we can transform anything in our neighborhood and we can do it quickly
neighborhood and we can do it quickly
neighborhood and we can do it quickly but the one thing that stopped me
but the one thing that stopped me
but the one thing that stopped me completely in my tracks was in 2012 I
completely in my tracks was in 2012 I
completely in my tracks was in 2012 I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and
was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and
was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and then everything stopped and at that
then everything stopped and at that
then everything stopped and at that point I had to sit and think about well
point I had to sit and think about well
point I had to sit and think about well what was all this for why are we doing
what was all this for why are we doing
what was all this for why are we doing all these things I’m not even going to
all these things I’m not even going to
all these things I’m not even going to be alive to see all these things grow to
be alive to see all these things grow to
be alive to see all these things grow to see these great blocks occur to see
see these great blocks occur to see
see these great blocks occur to see wonderful things happen in my
wonderful things happen in my
wonderful things happen in my neighborhood that we help plant seeds
neighborhood that we help plant seeds
neighborhood that we help plant seeds for so it gave me a chance to stop and
for so it gave me a chance to stop and
for so it gave me a chance to stop and think about okay what’s going on here so
think about okay what’s going on here so
think about okay what’s going on here so after I’m taking this chemotherapy and
after I’m taking this chemotherapy and
after I’m taking this chemotherapy and I’m and I’m going through all this
I’m and I’m going through all this
I’m and I’m going through all this barrage of treatments I’m still having
barrage of treatments I’m still having
barrage of treatments I’m still having to work and looking at places around the
to work and looking at places around the
to work and looking at places around the world and but I’m now at this point I’m
world and but I’m now at this point I’m
world and but I’m now at this point I’m thinking a lot more philosophically
thinking a lot more philosophically
thinking a lot more philosophically about the things that we’re doing one of
about the things that we’re doing one of
about the things that we’re doing one of the things we started realizing was we
the things we started realizing was we
the things we started realizing was we have two ways that we can build our
have two ways that we can build our
have two ways that we can build our communities either based on fear or
communities either based on fear or
communities either based on fear or based on love and when we build our
based on love and when we build our
based on love and when we build our places based on
places based on
places based on year we put bars on the windows we don’t
year we put bars on the windows we don’t
year we put bars on the windows we don’t put sidewalks out because we don’t want
put sidewalks out because we don’t want
put sidewalks out because we don’t want kids to cross the street cuz we’re
kids to cross the street cuz we’re
kids to cross the street cuz we’re afraid they’re gonna get hit by cars or
afraid they’re gonna get hit by cars or
afraid they’re gonna get hit by cars or we put benches out that we put railings
we put benches out that we put railings
we put benches out that we put railings on because we’re afraid homeless people
on because we’re afraid homeless people
on because we’re afraid homeless people will lay down on them and what happens
will lay down on them and what happens
will lay down on them and what happens when we create places based on our fears
when we create places based on our fears
when we create places based on our fears is they become inhospitable and inhumane
is they become inhospitable and inhumane
is they become inhospitable and inhumane in places that nobody wants to be around
in places that nobody wants to be around
in places that nobody wants to be around as opposed to building places that are
as opposed to building places that are
as opposed to building places that are based on love where we care about people
based on love where we care about people
based on love where we care about people or we think about bringing people
or we think about bringing people
or we think about bringing people together and holding each other and
together and holding each other and
together and holding each other and places that are built on love those are
places that are built on love those are
places that are built on love those are the places that we want to be in in
the places that we want to be in in
the places that we want to be in in beauty this idea of like how do we get
beauty this idea of like how do we get
beauty this idea of like how do we get more beautiful places in our community
more beautiful places in our community
more beautiful places in our community how do we realize that all the places we
how do we realize that all the places we
how do we realize that all the places we have now are lacking in beauty look I
have now are lacking in beauty look I
have now are lacking in beauty look I referenced this picture a lot this is
referenced this picture a lot this is
referenced this picture a lot this is actually in Walmart Paris I looked at
actually in Walmart Paris I looked at
actually in Walmart Paris I looked at this when I first saw this picture and I
this when I first saw this picture and I
this when I first saw this picture and I said man I wish this was in my
said man I wish this was in my
said man I wish this was in my neighborhood if it was there I would go
neighborhood if it was there I would go
neighborhood if it was there I would go have coffee here every single day I love
have coffee here every single day I love
have coffee here every single day I love I I would let my kids to work here I
I I would let my kids to work here I
I I would let my kids to work here I love the landscaping how it spills out
love the landscaping how it spills out
love the landscaping how it spills out on the building I would love to work on
on the building I would love to work on
on the building I would love to work on top of this space and be here all the
top of this space and be here all the
top of this space and be here all the time
time
time other people in my neighborhood they
other people in my neighborhood they
other people in my neighborhood they said well we wish we had this in our
said well we wish we had this in our
said well we wish we had this in our neighborhood as well we put on our
neighborhood as well we put on our
neighborhood as well we put on our postcards we’d have our kids work here
postcards we’d have our kids work here
postcards we’d have our kids work here so I thought well we all collectively
so I thought well we all collectively
so I thought well we all collectively wish we had more places that look like
wish we had more places that look like
wish we had more places that look like this then why do we keep building places
this then why do we keep building places
this then why do we keep building places that look like this and that was the big
that look like this and that was the big
that look like this and that was the big realization was that a lot of these
realization was that a lot of these
realization was that a lot of these places that we’re building don’t matter
places that we’re building don’t matter
places that we’re building don’t matter they’re not places that people care
they’re not places that people care
they’re not places that people care about and there is a byproduct when you
about and there is a byproduct when you
about and there is a byproduct when you build a place in a way that people don’t
build a place in a way that people don’t
build a place in a way that people don’t care about it it doesn’t have a legacy
care about it it doesn’t have a legacy
care about it it doesn’t have a legacy it makes us feel like we’re don’t matter
it makes us feel like we’re don’t matter
it makes us feel like we’re don’t matter anymore
anymore
anymore romance okay this idea of when I brought
romance okay this idea of when I brought
romance okay this idea of when I brought out two cities now the amazing thing is
out two cities now the amazing thing is
out two cities now the amazing thing is we’re often I’m walking through the
we’re often I’m walking through the
we’re often I’m walking through the streets with the mayors and I’m walking
streets with the mayors and I’m walking
streets with the mayors and I’m walking through the streets with city staff and
through the streets with city staff and
through the streets with city staff and they’re looking at me now is the expert
they’re looking at me now is the expert
they’re looking at me now is the expert saying okay what should we do how do we
saying okay what should we do how do we
saying okay what should we do how do we fix this and every time I walk into a
fix this and every time I walk into a
fix this and every time I walk into a new environment I always have this kind
new environment I always have this kind
new environment I always have this kind of blurred look and I think I have no
of blurred look and I think I have no
of blurred look and I think I have no idea I have no idea even where to begin
idea I have no idea even where to begin
idea I have no idea even where to begin I don’t know where to start cuz again I
I don’t know where to start cuz again I
I don’t know where to start cuz again I was the computer guy wasn’t the urban
was the computer guy wasn’t the urban
was the computer guy wasn’t the urban planner but what I found is that we can
planner but what I found is that we can
planner but what I found is that we can all make beautiful great places as long
all make beautiful great places as long
all make beautiful great places as long as we focus on how do we make places
as we focus on how do we make places
as we focus on how do we make places feel romantic and the amazing thing is
feel romantic and the amazing thing is
feel romantic and the amazing thing is the places that we love in our cities
the places that we love in our cities
the places that we love in our cities are the places that people take their
are the places that people take their
are the places that people take their wedding photos there’s the play places
wedding photos there’s the play places
wedding photos there’s the play places that we bring our kids and we take
that we bring our kids and we take
that we bring our kids and we take pictures with them around there’s places
pictures with them around there’s places
pictures with them around there’s places with the murals we do it all the time
with the murals we do it all the time
with the murals we do it all the time whenever we didn’t make weddings we
whenever we didn’t make weddings we
whenever we didn’t make weddings we figure out great ways to put string
figure out great ways to put string
figure out great ways to put string lights up put pillows out and and lots
lights up put pillows out and and lots
lights up put pillows out and and lots of seating and great food and tables for
of seating and great food and tables for
of seating and great food and tables for everyone
everyone
everyone this is an idea that we have deeply
this is an idea that we have deeply
this is an idea that we have deeply baked into our and our communities and
baked into our and our communities and
baked into our and our communities and we do this all the time when we build
we do this all the time when we build
we do this all the time when we build these places based on this kind of
these places based on this kind of
these places based on this kind of romantic notion all right in an intimate
romantic notion all right in an intimate
romantic notion all right in an intimate scale the other amazing thing is I found
scale the other amazing thing is I found
scale the other amazing thing is I found that we used to build places all the
that we used to build places all the
that we used to build places all the time that looked like this for thousands
time that looked like this for thousands
time that looked like this for thousands of years this little small intricate
of years this little small intricate
of years this little small intricate streets little small storefronts all
streets little small storefronts all
streets little small storefronts all clustered together with a small winding
clustered together with a small winding
clustered together with a small winding streets the thing is these are places
streets the thing is these are places
streets the thing is these are places that we love to be in the places that
that we love to be in the places that
that we love to be in the places that look like this in our city now which we
look like this in our city now which we
look like this in our city now which we have very few of are the places that we
have very few of are the places that we
have very few of are the places that we all flocked into this day but 99% of our
all flocked into this day but 99% of our
all flocked into this day but 99% of our city does not look like this there are
city does not look like this there are
city does not look like this there are wide there sprawling they’re cold and
wide there sprawling they’re cold and
wide there sprawling they’re cold and they are grey alright so how does an
they are grey alright so how does an
they are grey alright so how does an individual go in and start making these
individual go in and start making these
individual go in and start making these changes if we understand all the
changes if we understand all the
changes if we understand all the problems so I had to look for ideas I
problems so I had to look for ideas I
problems so I had to look for ideas I was looking studying for concepts for
was looking studying for concepts for
was looking studying for concepts for other people around the world throughout
other people around the world throughout
other people around the world throughout history who had to make change and make
history who had to make change and make
history who had to make change and make change quickly one of the interesting
change quickly one of the interesting
change quickly one of the interesting stories I found was a story of Napoleon
stories I found was a story of Napoleon
stories I found was a story of Napoleon and and many people know that Napoleon
and and many people know that Napoleon
and and many people know that Napoleon was exiled to the AIA the island of
was exiled to the AIA the island of
was exiled to the AIA the island of Helena but before that he was actually
Helena but before that he was actually
Helena but before that he was actually exiled another time to the Isle of Elba
exiled another time to the Isle of Elba
exiled another time to the Isle of Elba off of Italy and the amazing thing was
off of Italy and the amazing thing was
off of Italy and the amazing thing was he was given sovereignty over that
he was given sovereignty over that
he was given sovereignty over that island and said he could do whatever he
island and said he could do whatever he
island and said he could do whatever he wanted there so what he did is he looked
wanted there so what he did is he looked
wanted there so what he did is he looked around and he saw an island full of
around and he saw an island full of
around and he saw an island full of impoverished people and he said okay
impoverished people and he said okay
impoverished people and he said okay well out of boredom like let’s see what
well out of boredom like let’s see what
well out of boredom like let’s see what we can do to fix this area we realized
we can do to fix this area we realized
we can do to fix this area we realized well okay first of all the the farming
well okay first of all the the farming
well okay first of all the the farming methods are from the Dark Ages so he
methods are from the Dark Ages so he
methods are from the Dark Ages so he updated those and then he realizes that
updated those and then he realizes that
updated those and then he realizes that the school curriculums were were two
the school curriculums were were two
the school curriculums were were two three hundred years old so I said well
three hundred years old so I said well
three hundred years old so I said well let’s update those then he realized that
let’s update those then he realized that
let’s update those then he realized that there were no natural like resources
there were no natural like resources
there were no natural like resources that were people were using to help
that were people were using to help
that were people were using to help generate an economy in the neighborhood
generate an economy in the neighborhood
generate an economy in the neighborhood so he found old iron mines from the BC
so he found old iron mines from the BC
so he found old iron mines from the BC times they got those working again and
times they got those working again and
times they got those working again and then he created an army and then lastly
then he created an army and then lastly
then he created an army and then lastly he created a navy and he got himself off
he created a navy and he got himself off
he created a navy and he got himself off the island he became the Emperor of
the island he became the Emperor of
the island he became the Emperor of France again and he did all of that in
France again and he did all of that in
France again and he did all of that in 300 days so it shows you that one person
300 days so it shows you that one person
300 days so it shows you that one person can go into a community look at all
can go into a community look at all
can go into a community look at all these things that people say our
these things that people say our
these things that people say our problems and align them in different
problems and align them in different
problems and align them in different ways to make things work again alright
ways to make things work again alright
ways to make things work again alright and the community is ingredients what we
and the community is ingredients what we
and the community is ingredients what we do now we go to communities as we look
do now we go to communities as we look
do now we go to communities as we look around and we try to understand like
around and we try to understand like
around and we try to understand like this is basically a recipe we’re making
this is basically a recipe we’re making
this is basically a recipe we’re making based on the skill sets and the assets
based on the skill sets and the assets
based on the skill sets and the assets and the resources of the community
and the resources of the community
and the resources of the community itself so we look around and we say okay
itself so we look around and we say okay
itself so we look around and we say okay what do we have here we’ve got cooks or
what do we have here we’ve got cooks or
what do we have here we’ve got cooks or we’ve got construction workers or we
we’ve got construction workers or we
we’ve got construction workers or we have we have people from we have ref
have we have people from we have ref
have we have people from we have ref G communities we have all of these great
G communities we have all of these great
G communities we have all of these great cultures that we can pull off and we can
cultures that we can pull off and we can
cultures that we can pull off and we can start looking at their histories and
start looking at their histories and
start looking at their histories and looking at the great things that they do
looking at the great things that they do
looking at the great things that they do as a society and figure out how to embed
as a society and figure out how to embed
as a society and figure out how to embed those into the environment again this is
those into the environment again this is
those into the environment again this is an example of a project we did in Akron
an example of a project we did in Akron
an example of a project we did in Akron Ohio where we had an Italian community
Ohio where we had an Italian community
Ohio where we had an Italian community we took a street that was too wide and
we took a street that was too wide and
we took a street that was too wide and worked with Italians and made it into a
worked with Italians and made it into a
worked with Italians and made it into a bocce ball court there were Bhutanese
bocce ball court there were Bhutanese
bocce ball court there were Bhutanese refugees in the community as well that
refugees in the community as well that
refugees in the community as well that we made stages for and we built decks so
we made stages for and we built decks so
we made stages for and we built decks so people could sit outside and eat
people could sit outside and eat
people could sit outside and eat Bhutanese food we looked at uh old
Bhutanese food we looked at uh old
Bhutanese food we looked at uh old parking lots that had been empty for 450
parking lots that had been empty for 450
parking lots that had been empty for 450 years and thought how can we rapidly
years and thought how can we rapidly
years and thought how can we rapidly transform these into people places so we
transform these into people places so we
transform these into people places so we found if we just got some dirt and some
found if we just got some dirt and some
found if we just got some dirt and some hay bales within two hours we can make
hay bales within two hours we can make
hay bales within two hours we can make an Italian Piazza we could take banks
an Italian Piazza we could take banks
an Italian Piazza we could take banks that have been closed for decades
that have been closed for decades
that have been closed for decades instead of looking at these and thinking
instead of looking at these and thinking
instead of looking at these and thinking okay the streets are too wide though the
okay the streets are too wide though the
okay the streets are too wide though the weeds are overgrown that’s gray nobody
weeds are overgrown that’s gray nobody
weeds are overgrown that’s gray nobody wants to be here and we ask the
wants to be here and we ask the
wants to be here and we ask the community what are the resources here
community what are the resources here
community what are the resources here and they say we have things we just have
and they say we have things we just have
and they say we have things we just have tires or we have paint so well we can
tires or we have paint so well we can
tires or we have paint so well we can take the tires and the paint together
take the tires and the paint together
take the tires and the paint together and we make beautiful plazas we also
and we make beautiful plazas we also
and we make beautiful plazas we also again we get really creative with the
again we get really creative with the
again we get really creative with the tools and the resources we use this was
tools and the resources we use this was
tools and the resources we use this was us in Detroit we were trying to build
us in Detroit we were trying to build
us in Detroit we were trying to build bike lanes in Detroit and realize we
bike lanes in Detroit and realize we
bike lanes in Detroit and realize we needed to have ballers but bollards can
needed to have ballers but bollards can
needed to have ballers but bollards can be expensive about $20 per bollard so we
be expensive about $20 per bollard so we
be expensive about $20 per bollard so we thought okay well what can we do to make
thought okay well what can we do to make
thought okay well what can we do to make this as long as possible and realize you
this as long as possible and realize you
this as long as possible and realize you know what we can use toilet plungers and
know what we can use toilet plungers and
know what we can use toilet plungers and PVC pipe it gets us the same type of
PVC pipe it gets us the same type of
PVC pipe it gets us the same type of infrastructure on the ground so we get
infrastructure on the ground so we get
infrastructure on the ground so we get really creative with these ideas and
really creative with these ideas and
really creative with these ideas and that brings us full circle back to this
that brings us full circle back to this
that brings us full circle back to this return to technology since I started my
return to technology since I started my
return to technology since I started my world on this IT consulting and trying
world on this IT consulting and trying
world on this IT consulting and trying to figure out what can house this play
to figure out what can house this play
to figure out what can house this play back into these problems that we’re
back into these problems that we’re
back into these problems that we’re dealing with right now because the
dealing with right now because the
dealing with right now because the problems are so big the scale is so
problems are so big the scale is so
problems are so big the scale is so large we have a lot of things that need
large we have a lot of things that need
large we have a lot of things that need to be fixed and need to be fixed rapidly
to be fixed and need to be fixed rapidly
to be fixed and need to be fixed rapidly so now what we’ve been doing is looking
so now what we’ve been doing is looking
so now what we’ve been doing is looking at the idea bringing in digital
at the idea bringing in digital
at the idea bringing in digital fabrication so you’ve heard of 3d
fabrication so you’ve heard of 3d
fabrication so you’ve heard of 3d printers you’ve heard of laser cutters
printers you’ve heard of laser cutters
printers you’ve heard of laser cutters and CNC routers CNC routers are
and CNC routers CNC routers are
and CNC routers CNC routers are basically wood that you could put
basically wood that you could put
basically wood that you could put plywood onto a machine that you attach
plywood onto a machine that you attach
plywood onto a machine that you attach to a computer and it cuts out into the
to a computer and it cuts out into the
to a computer and it cuts out into the series of these puzzle pieces that you
series of these puzzle pieces that you
series of these puzzle pieces that you can notch together without oftentimes
can notch together without oftentimes
can notch together without oftentimes without wood glue or screws and make
without wood glue or screws and make
without wood glue or screws and make these great things in fact if you look
these great things in fact if you look
these great things in fact if you look at though the work of Wiki house where
at though the work of Wiki house where
at though the work of Wiki house where they developing these houses and great
they developing these houses and great
they developing these houses and great things we started looking at those and
things we started looking at those and
things we started looking at those and thought that well if you can build a
thought that well if you can build a
thought that well if you can build a house with this stuff you can also fix
house with this stuff you can also fix
house with this stuff you can also fix your blocks
your blocks
your blocks so we introduced a new library called
so we introduced a new library called
so we introduced a new library called the wiki block library you can go to our
the wiki block library you can go to our
the wiki block library you can go to our website and see this where we’ve
website and see this where we’ve
website and see this where we’ve designed help worked with Kent State
designed help worked with Kent State
designed help worked with Kent State University and in architects in Saint
University and in architects in Saint
University and in architects in Saint Paul and other places to design all of
Paul and other places to design all of
Paul and other places to design all of these amenities like coffee shops and
these amenities like coffee shops and
these amenities like coffee shops and park benches and we’re working on bus
park benches and we’re working on bus
park benches and we’re working on bus stops now and things like that but
stops now and things like that but
stops now and things like that but people can go onto the website they can
people can go onto the website they can
people can go onto the website they can download a file they can go to their
download a file they can go to their
download a file they can go to their local makerspace with plywood cut them
local makerspace with plywood cut them
local makerspace with plywood cut them out and they can turn it into a chair
out and they can turn it into a chair
out and they can turn it into a chair and you can see we can’t get wood to
and you can see we can’t get wood to
and you can see we can’t get wood to Bend with these technologies so a lot of
Bend with these technologies so a lot of
Bend with these technologies so a lot of interesting things are happening here
interesting things are happening here
interesting things are happening here this is us with the coffee kiosk that we
this is us with the coffee kiosk that we
this is us with the coffee kiosk that we helped design with Kent State and and
helped design with Kent State and and
helped design with Kent State and and construct on site this is us in our back
construct on site this is us in our back
construct on site this is us in our back a lot of behind our office itself where
a lot of behind our office itself where
a lot of behind our office itself where we took the street and we created
we took the street and we created
we took the street and we created pedestrian islands and ball bounce
pedestrian islands and ball bounce
pedestrian islands and ball bounce because we found that you can reduce
because we found that you can reduce
because we found that you can reduce pedestrian accidents by 50% with these
pedestrian accidents by 50% with these
pedestrian accidents by 50% with these and the big questions now that we’re
and the big questions now that we’re
and the big questions now that we’re trying to tackle gentrification we get
trying to tackle gentrification we get
trying to tackle gentrification we get asked this question all the time what
asked this question all the time what
asked this question all the time what happens when you start fixing a place
happens when you start fixing a place
happens when you start fixing a place people want to be there when people want
people want to be there when people want
people want to be there when people want to be there the prices go up and when
to be there the prices go up and when
to be there the prices go up and when the prices go what people get displaced
the prices go what people get displaced
the prices go what people get displaced so we started looking at this idea of
so we started looking at this idea of
so we started looking at this idea of ultra replacement how can we get people
ultra replacement how can we get people
ultra replacement how can we get people to stay in this area the people that
to stay in this area the people that
to stay in this area the people that live here and then have them generate
live here and then have them generate
live here and then have them generate the economics from the area be make
the economics from the area be make
the economics from the area be make these areas economically generative for
these areas economically generative for
these areas economically generative for themselves so we started looking at
themselves so we started looking at
themselves so we started looking at these ideas of like if you see right now
these ideas of like if you see right now
these ideas of like if you see right now this is us and with in Akron Ohio where
this is us and with in Akron Ohio where
this is us and with in Akron Ohio where we bought a house and we’re working with
we bought a house and we’re working with
we bought a house and we’re working with Bhutanese refugees showing them how they
Bhutanese refugees showing them how they
Bhutanese refugees showing them how they can turn the house into an air B&B that
can turn the house into an air B&B that
can turn the house into an air B&B that they can stay in and make it this
they can stay in and make it this
they can stay in and make it this special Bhutanese centric air B&B so you
special Bhutanese centric air B&B so you
special Bhutanese centric air B&B so you can have this wonderful culture that you
can have this wonderful culture that you
can have this wonderful culture that you go to when you stay in Akron and there
go to when you stay in Akron and there
go to when you stay in Akron and there you’re also showing this community how
you’re also showing this community how
you’re also showing this community how they can generate revenue in the area
they can generate revenue in the area
they can generate revenue in the area and stay in these places and fix up more
and stay in these places and fix up more
and stay in these places and fix up more of the homes this is us actually
of the homes this is us actually
of the homes this is us actually yesterday in our parking lot
yesterday in our parking lot
yesterday in our parking lot we built a greenhouse it took us an hour
we built a greenhouse it took us an hour
we built a greenhouse it took us an hour and a half to put this together so if
and a half to put this together so if
and a half to put this together so if you imagine if we can build a greenhouse
you imagine if we can build a greenhouse
you imagine if we can build a greenhouse in an hour and a half in a day we could
in an hour and a half in a day we could
in an hour and a half in a day we could build a house and in a week we could
build a house and in a week we could
build a house and in a week we could build a neighborhood and you can add
build a neighborhood and you can add
build a neighborhood and you can add coffee shops and fix your parks and fix
coffee shops and fix your parks and fix
coffee shops and fix your parks and fix your plazas and all kinds of things this
your plazas and all kinds of things this
your plazas and all kinds of things this is an amazing technology that we have
is an amazing technology that we have
is an amazing technology that we have now our disposal to start fixing these
now our disposal to start fixing these
now our disposal to start fixing these places rapidly okay that brings us back
places rapidly okay that brings us back
places rapidly okay that brings us back to cancer and what I was left with so
to cancer and what I was left with so
to cancer and what I was left with so I’m sitting now at home and I’m after
I’m sitting now at home and I’m after
I’m sitting now at home and I’m after chemotherapy I’m sick and I’m on the
chemotherapy I’m sick and I’m on the
chemotherapy I’m sick and I’m on the ground I’m just wondering like how I’m
ground I’m just wondering like how I’m
ground I’m just wondering like how I’m gonna make it through another day
gonna make it through another day
gonna make it through another day when I was at my sickest and I needed
when I was at my sickest and I needed
when I was at my sickest and I needed help the neighborhood that I rallied
help the neighborhood that I rallied
help the neighborhood that I rallied together to help do better block started
together to help do better block started
together to help do better block started coming at my door and started helping
coming at my door and started helping
coming at my door and started helping take care of my kids they went and took
take care of my kids they went and took
take care of my kids they went and took my my son out fishing and they took my
my my son out fishing and they took my
my my son out fishing and they took my daughter to the movies and they started
daughter to the movies and they started
daughter to the movies and they started filling up my refrigerator with food and
filling up my refrigerator with food and
filling up my refrigerator with food and they started sitting with me when I was
they started sitting with me when I was
they started sitting with me when I was in my time of need and the amazing thing
in my time of need and the amazing thing
in my time of need and the amazing thing is what I got out of all this was a
is what I got out of all this was a
is what I got out of all this was a neighborhood in fact they gathered
neighborhood in fact they gathered
neighborhood in fact they gathered around me and started doing these build
around me and started doing these build
around me and started doing these build a better jason campaigns to help me pay
a better jason campaigns to help me pay
a better jason campaigns to help me pay for my bills so what I found is all of
for my bills so what I found is all of
for my bills so what I found is all of us are looking for this the sense of
us are looking for this the sense of
us are looking for this the sense of place this sense of belonging we all
place this sense of belonging we all
place this sense of belonging we all have this deep desire to be loved and be
have this deep desire to be loved and be
have this deep desire to be loved and be cared for and to care for others as well
cared for and to care for others as well
cared for and to care for others as well we all have feelings of isolation as all
we all have feelings of isolation as all
we all have feelings of isolation as all as well and if we know that we all have
as well and if we know that we all have
as well and if we know that we all have these these same issues what can we do
these these same issues what can we do
these these same issues what can we do to gather our resources together and
to gather our resources together and
to gather our resources together and start making our world a better place
start making our world a better place
start making our world a better place together and before I forget as of this
together and before I forget as of this
together and before I forget as of this month I was diagnosed as being four
month I was diagnosed as being four
month I was diagnosed as being four years cancer-free so I’m fortunately
years cancer-free so I’m fortunately
years cancer-free so I’m fortunately going to be just fine so with that thank
going to be just fine so with that thank
going to be just fine so with that thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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