hello everyone I’m so excited to be here with you all today this is actually my
with you all today this is actually my
with you all today this is actually my first TED event ever so despite the
first TED event ever so despite the
first TED event ever so despite the smile and actually really really scared
smile and actually really really scared
smile and actually really really scared right now I’m here today to share with
right now I’m here today to share with
right now I’m here today to share with you all what I’ve been doing now for the
you all what I’ve been doing now for the
you all what I’ve been doing now for the last year it’s a story of learning of
last year it’s a story of learning of
last year it’s a story of learning of forging connections with incredible
forging connections with incredible
forging connections with incredible people and most importantly it’s a story
people and most importantly it’s a story
people and most importantly it’s a story of bamboo bicycles this tale begins with
of bamboo bicycles this tale begins with
of bamboo bicycles this tale begins with a problem one that’s both big and small
a problem one that’s both big and small
a problem one that’s both big and small in nature there are a lot of bad things
in nature there are a lot of bad things
in nature there are a lot of bad things going on in our world today global
going on in our world today global
going on in our world today global climate change looms large is perhaps
climate change looms large is perhaps
climate change looms large is perhaps the greatest threat we have ever faced
the greatest threat we have ever faced
the greatest threat we have ever faced and the aftermath of this election it is
and the aftermath of this election it is
and the aftermath of this election it is clear to see that there’s more that
clear to see that there’s more that
clear to see that there’s more that divides and unites us in America as
divides and unites us in America as
divides and unites us in America as individuals and particularly as a young
individuals and particularly as a young
individuals and particularly as a young person coming of age in this time period
person coming of age in this time period
person coming of age in this time period the challenges we face can feel
the challenges we face can feel
the challenges we face can feel insurmountable what is the point of even
insurmountable what is the point of even
insurmountable what is the point of even trying this sensation the sense of
trying this sensation the sense of
trying this sensation the sense of helplessness and passivity and the
helplessness and passivity and the
helplessness and passivity and the disconnect that accompanies it these are
disconnect that accompanies it these are
disconnect that accompanies it these are the challenges that I want to talk about
the challenges that I want to talk about
the challenges that I want to talk about today I’m naturally a pretty introverted
today I’m naturally a pretty introverted
today I’m naturally a pretty introverted person into high school I struggled to
person into high school I struggled to
person into high school I struggled to forge connections with those around me
forge connections with those around me
forge connections with those around me even as someone outwardly social I was
even as someone outwardly social I was
even as someone outwardly social I was on the crew team and friendly with many
on the crew team and friendly with many
on the crew team and friendly with many people I didn’t always feel as though
people I didn’t always feel as though
people I didn’t always feel as though these relationships were that genuine
these relationships were that genuine
these relationships were that genuine and that’s I considered complex issues
and that’s I considered complex issues
and that’s I considered complex issues from you know who was going out with
from you know who was going out with
from you know who was going out with who’d this past election I often felt
who’d this past election I often felt
who’d this past election I often felt powerless even when I got by this
powerless even when I got by this
powerless even when I got by this initial sensation and tried to tackle a
initial sensation and tried to tackle a
initial sensation and tried to tackle a problem
problem
problem I would think in huge terms and end up
I would think in huge terms and end up
I would think in huge terms and end up never completing what I set out to do my
never completing what I set out to do my
never completing what I set out to do my solution was to wall myself off from
solution was to wall myself off from
solution was to wall myself off from those around me and as inconspicuous a
those around me and as inconspicuous a
those around me and as inconspicuous a manner as possible but in doing so I
manner as possible but in doing so I
manner as possible but in doing so I realized that I was ignoring the problem
realized that I was ignoring the problem
realized that I was ignoring the problem to be an active part of the solution I
to be an active part of the solution I
to be an active part of the solution I would need to build a bridge rather than
would need to build a bridge rather than
would need to build a bridge rather than a wall
during my sophomore year of high school
during my sophomore year of high school I spend the semester studying abroad in
I spend the semester studying abroad in
I spend the semester studying abroad in China I had a great time and as I neared
China I had a great time and as I neared
China I had a great time and as I neared the end of my stay I began to think
the end of my stay I began to think
the end of my stay I began to think about ways in which I could incorporate
about ways in which I could incorporate
about ways in which I could incorporate my experience back into life in
my experience back into life in
my experience back into life in brookline wall abroad I met David Wang
brookline wall abroad I met David Wang
brookline wall abroad I met David Wang an alum from my high school and the
an alum from my high school and the
an alum from my high school and the founder of bamboo bicycles Beijing or
founder of bamboo bicycles Beijing or
founder of bamboo bicycles Beijing or BBB located in the traditional alleyways
BBB located in the traditional alleyways
BBB located in the traditional alleyways of Beijing BBB offers two-day workshops
of Beijing BBB offers two-day workshops
of Beijing BBB offers two-day workshops teaching participants how to build their
teaching participants how to build their
teaching participants how to build their own bicycle out of bamboo the goal is to
own bicycle out of bamboo the goal is to
own bicycle out of bamboo the goal is to rebuild the city’s bike culture seeing
rebuild the city’s bike culture seeing
rebuild the city’s bike culture seeing the workshop space these vehicles in the
the workshop space these vehicles in the
the workshop space these vehicles in the way people interacted with each other
way people interacted with each other
way people interacted with each other they’re kindled an interest in here that
they’re kindled an interest in here that
they’re kindled an interest in here that refused to disappear what would it be
refused to disappear what would it be
refused to disappear what would it be like to see one of these bikes and
like to see one of these bikes and
like to see one of these bikes and fenway on the common or perhaps riding
fenway on the common or perhaps riding
fenway on the common or perhaps riding down Beacon Street back in Boston I
down Beacon Street back in Boston I
down Beacon Street back in Boston I reached out to David who had also
reached out to David who had also
reached out to David who had also returned to continue his education he
returned to continue his education he
returned to continue his education he told me how he hoped to run a bike
told me how he hoped to run a bike
told me how he hoped to run a bike building workshop at MIT over their
building workshop at MIT over their
building workshop at MIT over their winter term and how he was looking for a
winter term and how he was looking for a
winter term and how he was looking for a partner to help organize and lend a hand
partner to help organize and lend a hand
partner to help organize and lend a hand at the workshop I jumped at the
at the workshop I jumped at the
at the workshop I jumped at the opportunity soon and I was researching
opportunity soon and I was researching
opportunity soon and I was researching where to buy bamboo in the US speaking
where to buy bamboo in the US speaking
where to buy bamboo in the US speaking with suppliers I learned how bamboo can
with suppliers I learned how bamboo can
with suppliers I learned how bamboo can grow to maturity in just four years how
grow to maturity in just four years how
grow to maturity in just four years how it’s so strong that it’s been used as
it’s so strong that it’s been used as
it’s so strong that it’s been used as scaffolding throughout much of Asia and
scaffolding throughout much of Asia and
scaffolding throughout much of Asia and how it can grow almost anywhere in the
how it can grow almost anywhere in the
how it can grow almost anywhere in the world
world
world I even connected to connected with and
I even connected to connected with and
I even connected to connected with and spoke to the president of the American
spoke to the president of the American
spoke to the president of the American bamboo Society and yeah there’s an
bamboo Society and yeah there’s an
bamboo Society and yeah there’s an American bamboo Society who would have
American bamboo Society who would have
American bamboo Society who would have known at that point I was excited by the
known at that point I was excited by the
known at that point I was excited by the big picture enamored with these sexy
big picture enamored with these sexy
big picture enamored with these sexy bikes and the idea of a social
bikes and the idea of a social
bikes and the idea of a social enterprise but I still didn’t really
enterprise but I still didn’t really
enterprise but I still didn’t really know almost anything about building a
know almost anything about building a
know almost anything about building a bamboo bicycle in January I finally got
bamboo bicycle in January I finally got
bamboo bicycle in January I finally got to participate in my first workshop
to participate in my first workshop
to participate in my first workshop seeing these vehicles begin to take
seeing these vehicles begin to take
seeing these vehicles begin to take shape I finally began to realize what
shape I finally began to realize what
shape I finally began to realize what building your own bicycle is all about
building your own bicycle is all about
building your own bicycle is all about at the beginning of a workshop a nervous
at the beginning of a workshop a nervous
at the beginning of a workshop a nervous group of people ranging in age
group of people ranging in age
group of people ranging in age experience and values come together
experience and values come together
experience and values come together there’s that awkward
there’s that awkward
there’s that awkward – that can only be associated with the
– that can only be associated with the
– that can only be associated with the first day at any job or school we all
first day at any job or school we all
first day at any job or school we all know it but over the course of those two
know it but over the course of those two
know it but over the course of those two days something remarkable happens people
days something remarkable happens people
days something remarkable happens people get dirty sawdust on pants gluey hands
get dirty sawdust on pants gluey hands
get dirty sawdust on pants gluey hands they begin to talk and collaborate while
they begin to talk and collaborate while
they begin to talk and collaborate while building my bike they make mistakes and
building my bike they make mistakes and
building my bike they make mistakes and then work to find solutions seeing this
then work to find solutions seeing this
then work to find solutions seeing this I realized that you build more than just
I realized that you build more than just
I realized that you build more than just a personalized and in my opinion crazy
a personalized and in my opinion crazy
a personalized and in my opinion crazy cool bicycle over the course of two days
cool bicycle over the course of two days
cool bicycle over the course of two days the process itself provides a platform
the process itself provides a platform
the process itself provides a platform for people to come together and create
for people to come together and create
for people to come together and create meaningful and powerful connections in
meaningful and powerful connections in
meaningful and powerful connections in addition to this sense of community the
addition to this sense of community the
addition to this sense of community the process of building gives individuals a
process of building gives individuals a
process of building gives individuals a sense of competence and confidence you
sense of competence and confidence you
sense of competence and confidence you just built your own bicycle with these
just built your own bicycle with these
just built your own bicycle with these very two hands if you can create your
very two hands if you can create your
very two hands if you can create your own vehicle you can do anything I was
own vehicle you can do anything I was
own vehicle you can do anything I was hooked
hooked
hooked soon after I began coordinating with
soon after I began coordinating with
soon after I began coordinating with David and took a larger role in
David and took a larger role in
David and took a larger role in organizing our next workshop I located a
organizing our next workshop I located a
organizing our next workshop I located a space the Brooklyn Teen Center ordered
space the Brooklyn Teen Center ordered
space the Brooklyn Teen Center ordered supplies and managed advertising in
supplies and managed advertising in
supplies and managed advertising in April we ran another successful workshop
April we ran another successful workshop
April we ran another successful workshop building for more bamboo bikes I also
building for more bamboo bikes I also
building for more bamboo bikes I also joined Aven and a team of individuals
joined Aven and a team of individuals
joined Aven and a team of individuals who had all been touched by these bikes
who had all been touched by these bikes
who had all been touched by these bikes and applied for MIT ideas global
and applied for MIT ideas global
and applied for MIT ideas global challenge grant to fund a fellowship
challenge grant to fund a fellowship
challenge grant to fund a fellowship program at the bamboo bicycles Beijing
program at the bamboo bicycles Beijing
program at the bamboo bicycles Beijing workshop over the summer we won and all
workshop over the summer we won and all
workshop over the summer we won and all of a sudden I had a ticket back to China
of a sudden I had a ticket back to China
of a sudden I had a ticket back to China look for Jim yet to be honest I was
look for Jim yet to be honest I was
look for Jim yet to be honest I was still just kind of faking it all as
still just kind of faking it all as
still just kind of faking it all as David would tell me the next step was
David would tell me the next step was
David would tell me the next step was simply to build my own bamboo bike but
simply to build my own bamboo bike but
simply to build my own bamboo bike but this wasn’t simple for me I didn’t know
this wasn’t simple for me I didn’t know
this wasn’t simple for me I didn’t know how to build a bike I had never made
how to build a bike I had never made
how to build a bike I had never made anything in my life before I never even
anything in my life before I never even
anything in my life before I never even used a saw before that first workshop in
used a saw before that first workshop in
used a saw before that first workshop in January when I first attempted to build
January when I first attempted to build
January when I first attempted to build my bike following our April workshop I
my bike following our April workshop I
my bike following our April workshop I would constantly stall every time I
would constantly stall every time I
would constantly stall every time I didn’t know precisely what to do I was
didn’t know precisely what to do I was
didn’t know precisely what to do I was afraid to make mistakes yet refused to
afraid to make mistakes yet refused to
afraid to make mistakes yet refused to reach out and seek help or ask questions
reach out and seek help or ask questions
reach out and seek help or ask questions that bicycle which should have taken me
that bicycle which should have taken me
that bicycle which should have taken me two days to build stretched into a
two days to build stretched into a
two days to build stretched into a three-month project that’s I fiddled and
three-month project that’s I fiddled and
three-month project that’s I fiddled and fascinated unsure of what step to take
fascinated unsure of what step to take
fascinated unsure of what step to take next building it required me to rewire
next building it required me to rewire
next building it required me to rewire my own brain it required me to start
my own brain it required me to start
my own brain it required me to start asking questions to problem-solve with
asking questions to problem-solve with
asking questions to problem-solve with my mind and hands and to create an
my mind and hands and to create an
my mind and hands and to create an object that had only ever dreamed of
object that had only ever dreamed of
object that had only ever dreamed of before when it turned out that I had
before when it turned out that I had
before when it turned out that I had made a mistake while reinforcing the
made a mistake while reinforcing the
made a mistake while reinforcing the bike’s strength and would have to throw
bike’s strength and would have to throw
bike’s strength and would have to throw it away I was utterly devastated but I
it away I was utterly devastated but I
it away I was utterly devastated but I took that failure in stride and upon my
took that failure in stride and upon my
took that failure in stride and upon my arrival to Beijing in June I learned not
arrival to Beijing in June I learned not
arrival to Beijing in June I learned not only how to build my own bamboo bicycle
only how to build my own bamboo bicycle
only how to build my own bamboo bicycle but how to teach others to build their
but how to teach others to build their
but how to teach others to build their own as well in Beijing not only did I
own as well in Beijing not only did I
own as well in Beijing not only did I gain skills I had never had before I met
gain skills I had never had before I met
gain skills I had never had before I met incredible people who demonstrated to me
incredible people who demonstrated to me
incredible people who demonstrated to me that taking ownership of your own
that taking ownership of your own
that taking ownership of your own bicycle that extends outward and how
bicycle that extends outward and how
bicycle that extends outward and how about taking this small initial action
about taking this small initial action
about taking this small initial action building a bamboo bicycle people feel
building a bamboo bicycle people feel
building a bamboo bicycle people feel emboldened to think creatively about
emboldened to think creatively about
emboldened to think creatively about challenges act on their ideas and then
challenges act on their ideas and then
challenges act on their ideas and then share this with others Don Gow a young
share this with others Don Gow a young
share this with others Don Gow a young woman from northern China came to the
woman from northern China came to the
woman from northern China came to the internationally flavored bamboo bicycles
internationally flavored bamboo bicycles
internationally flavored bamboo bicycles Beijing a couple years before I did she
Beijing a couple years before I did she
Beijing a couple years before I did she didn’t know any English and had never
didn’t know any English and had never
didn’t know any English and had never even ridden a bicycle before but the
even ridden a bicycle before but the
even ridden a bicycle before but the workshop space and everything involved
workshop space and everything involved
workshop space and everything involved in it just made sense to her now not
in it just made sense to her now not
in it just made sense to her now not only does Don Gow have literally the
only does Don Gow have literally the
only does Don Gow have literally the coolest bamboo bicycle ever
coolest bamboo bicycle ever
coolest bamboo bicycle ever she’s also the workshop manager in
she’s also the workshop manager in
she’s also the workshop manager in Beijing over the summer Don guy was my
Beijing over the summer Don guy was my
Beijing over the summer Don guy was my greatest inspiration her willingness to
greatest inspiration her willingness to
greatest inspiration her willingness to challenge herself by coming in with
challenge herself by coming in with
challenge herself by coming in with literally zero bicycle experience and no
literally zero bicycle experience and no
literally zero bicycle experience and no English skills had a huge impact on me a
English skills had a huge impact on me a
English skills had a huge impact on me a student in both bike building and
student in both bike building and
student in both bike building and Mandarin I saw the impact that building
Mandarin I saw the impact that building
Mandarin I saw the impact that building your own bicycle can have on individuals
your own bicycle can have on individuals
your own bicycle can have on individuals lives
lives
lives Sonny created a community mural jason
Sonny created a community mural jason
Sonny created a community mural jason built a bamboo stress tester Karen began
built a bamboo stress tester Karen began
built a bamboo stress tester Karen began soldering her own bike light seeing
soldering her own bike light seeing
soldering her own bike light seeing these awesome projects I realized that
these awesome projects I realized that
these awesome projects I realized that what attracted me to bamboos bicycles
what attracted me to bamboos bicycles
what attracted me to bamboos bicycles had changed no longer was it the sex
had changed no longer was it the sex
had changed no longer was it the sex appeal of these bikes or the idea of a
appeal of these bikes or the idea of a
appeal of these bikes or the idea of a social enterprise rather it was the
social enterprise rather it was the
social enterprise rather it was the ability to teach others when I can share
ability to teach others when I can share
ability to teach others when I can share this creative process with others and
this creative process with others and
this creative process with others and connect using bamboo bicycles that is
connect using bamboo bicycles that is
connect using bamboo bicycles that is when value is added already we’ve begun
when value is added already we’ve begun
when value is added already we’ve begun to see huge development in Boston since
to see huge development in Boston since
to see huge development in Boston since I reached out to David a year ago we’ve
I reached out to David a year ago we’ve
I reached out to David a year ago we’ve taught over 40 people and built 22
taught over 40 people and built 22
taught over 40 people and built 22 bamboo bikes we partnered with the
bamboo bikes we partnered with the
bamboo bikes we partnered with the Brooklyn Teen Center and several other
Brooklyn Teen Center and several other
Brooklyn Teen Center and several other incredible teens to create that first
incredible teens to create that first
incredible teens to create that first communal multifunctional makerspace
communal multifunctional makerspace
communal multifunctional makerspace designed by and for Brooklyn youth right
designed by and for Brooklyn youth right
designed by and for Brooklyn youth right down the road
down the road
down the road projects in the space range from
projects in the space range from
projects in the space range from engineering classes led by high school
engineering classes led by high school
engineering classes led by high school students for middle schoolers to Lego
students for middle schoolers to Lego
students for middle schoolers to Lego robotics a greenhouse and of course bike
robotics a greenhouse and of course bike
robotics a greenhouse and of course bike building right now you might be
building right now you might be
building right now you might be wondering what’s the point of this talk
wondering what’s the point of this talk
wondering what’s the point of this talk why would this kid who’s trying to
why would this kid who’s trying to
why would this kid who’s trying to balance bike building with school and
balance bike building with school and
balance bike building with school and maybe squeeze in his college
maybe squeeze in his college
maybe squeeze in his college applications on the side take on a TED
applications on the side take on a TED
applications on the side take on a TED talk I mean you guys are pretty
talk I mean you guys are pretty
talk I mean you guys are pretty frightening if you must know and I’d
frightening if you must know and I’d
frightening if you must know and I’d like to answer that with a short story
like to answer that with a short story
like to answer that with a short story in Beijing this past summer I lived with
in Beijing this past summer I lived with
in Beijing this past summer I lived with my good friend Jason Hong pictured here
my good friend Jason Hong pictured here
my good friend Jason Hong pictured here in this two room apartment and we loved
in this two room apartment and we loved
in this two room apartment and we loved the space but it was also kind of
the space but it was also kind of
the space but it was also kind of falling apart a little bit anyway
falling apart a little bit anyway
falling apart a little bit anyway I wake up one morning and I hear this
I wake up one morning and I hear this
I wake up one morning and I hear this banging sound and I can’t find Jason
banging sound and I can’t find Jason
banging sound and I can’t find Jason anywhere and as it turned out he gotten
anywhere and as it turned out he gotten
anywhere and as it turned out he gotten up earlier in the morning to go to the
up earlier in the morning to go to the
up earlier in the morning to go to the bathroom and shutting the door behind
bathroom and shutting the door behind
bathroom and shutting the door behind him the handle had gotten jammed and
him the handle had gotten jammed and
him the handle had gotten jammed and he’d been locked inside for I don’t know
he’d been locked inside for I don’t know
he’d been locked inside for I don’t know like maybe an hour I was asleep so I
like maybe an hour I was asleep so I
like maybe an hour I was asleep so I have no idea so there we were 7:00 in
have no idea so there we were 7:00 in
have no idea so there we were 7:00 in the morning
the morning
the morning bleary-eyed I was on one side in my PJs
bleary-eyed I was on one side in my PJs
bleary-eyed I was on one side in my PJs Jason was on the other side in his
Jason was on the other side in his
Jason was on the other side in his tighty whities and we were beginning to
tighty whities and we were beginning to
tighty whities and we were beginning to freak out do we call David do we call
freak out do we call David do we call
freak out do we call David do we call the police
the police
the police what could we possibly do and that’s
what could we possibly do and that’s
what could we possibly do and that’s when I realized we didn’t need anyone
when I realized we didn’t need anyone
when I realized we didn’t need anyone else we could take action ourselves
else we could take action ourselves
else we could take action ourselves looking around I located the few tools
looking around I located the few tools
looking around I located the few tools we did have our just at our disposal and
we did have our just at our disposal and
we did have our just at our disposal and then working together Jason and I
then working together Jason and I
then working together Jason and I basically unhinged the entire frame from
basically unhinged the entire frame from
basically unhinged the entire frame from the door and freedom the hug that
the door and freedom the hug that
the door and freedom the hug that followed was the best one ever just so
followed was the best one ever just so
followed was the best one ever just so you guys now my point is that building
you guys now my point is that building
you guys now my point is that building your own bicycle empowers individuals to
your own bicycle empowers individuals to
your own bicycle empowers individuals to take agency over their own lives and
take agency over their own lives and
take agency over their own lives and action in their communities it allows
action in their communities it allows
action in their communities it allows participants to think creatively
participants to think creatively
participants to think creatively and connect with others despite receive
and connect with others despite receive
and connect with others despite receive differences and so now I’d like to
differences and so now I’d like to
differences and so now I’d like to invite you all to join me together
invite you all to join me together
invite you all to join me together let’s concentrate on the small actions
let’s concentrate on the small actions
let’s concentrate on the small actions together
together
together let’s turn bamboo bicycles Boston from
let’s turn bamboo bicycles Boston from
let’s turn bamboo bicycles Boston from an idea into a reality one bike at a
an idea into a reality one bike at a
an idea into a reality one bike at a time thank you all so much
time thank you all so much
time thank you all so much [Applause]
”
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