August 9th 2014 for many this was just a normal Saturday you may have been
normal Saturday you may have been
normal Saturday you may have been walking through the park maybe spending
walking through the park maybe spending
walking through the park maybe spending time with your family or if you’re a
time with your family or if you’re a
time with your family or if you’re a workaholic like me you were working but
workaholic like me you were working but
workaholic like me you were working but August 9th was not just a normal
August 9th was not just a normal
August 9th was not just a normal Saturday this was a day in which a young
Saturday this was a day in which a young
Saturday this was a day in which a young man lost his life was killed in his
man lost his life was killed in his
man lost his life was killed in his community laid in the middle of the
community laid in the middle of the
community laid in the middle of the community for four hours with no
community for four hours with no
community for four hours with no government to assistance his mother and
government to assistance his mother and
government to assistance his mother and his family not able to get to him and a
his family not able to get to him and a
his family not able to get to him and a community continually being
community continually being
community continually being retraumatization just a day of mourning
retraumatization just a day of mourning
retraumatization just a day of mourning and grief this day was a day in which a
and grief this day was a day in which a
and grief this day was a day in which a community that many times have been
community that many times have been
community that many times have been forgotten said I am tired of being
forgotten said I am tired of being
forgotten said I am tired of being erased I am tired of being excluded I am
erased I am tired of being excluded I am
erased I am tired of being excluded I am tired of being forgotten we are tired of
tired of being forgotten we are tired of
tired of being forgotten we are tired of being killed and so this was the day in
being killed and so this was the day in
being killed and so this was the day in which a community rose up but what was
which a community rose up but what was
which a community rose up but what was interesting about 2014 is that this also
interesting about 2014 is that this also
interesting about 2014 is that this also as you may know was our 250th birthday
as you may know was our 250th birthday
as you may know was our 250th birthday and there was a lot of celebrations
and there was a lot of celebrations
and there was a lot of celebrations prior to this about how fantastic we
prior to this about how fantastic we
prior to this about how fantastic we were as a city if we’ve been so great in
were as a city if we’ve been so great in
were as a city if we’ve been so great in 250 years just imagine where we’ll be
250 years just imagine where we’ll be
250 years just imagine where we’ll be and 250 more but this was a day in which
and 250 more but this was a day in which
and 250 more but this was a day in which the community started to say you haven’t
the community started to say you haven’t
the community started to say you haven’t been there great and we need to do
been there great and we need to do
been there great and we need to do something about it
something about it
something about it now for me this this moment was in time
now for me this this moment was in time
now for me this this moment was in time in which I started to wrapper with a lot
in which I started to wrapper with a lot
in which I started to wrapper with a lot of my identities because I’m an
of my identities because I’m an
of my identities because I’m an african-american woman mother of black
african-american woman mother of black
african-american woman mother of black boys wife of a black man st. Louis
boys wife of a black man st. Louis
boys wife of a black man st. Louis native
native
native I had actually just moved out of
I had actually just moved out of
I had actually just moved out of Ferguson six months prior to the unrest
Ferguson six months prior to the unrest
Ferguson six months prior to the unrest and I was also working as head of
and I was also working as head of
and I was also working as head of communications at a local nonprofit that
communications at a local nonprofit that
communications at a local nonprofit that works in diversity and inclusion and
works in diversity and inclusion and
works in diversity and inclusion and what was happening is what we tend to
what was happening is what we tend to
what was happening is what we tend to see which is where we want to convene
see which is where we want to convene
see which is where we want to convene people and have conversations about what
people and have conversations about what
people and have conversations about what we’re going to do and my organization
we’re going to do and my organization
we’re going to do and my organization was no different we worked in diversity
was no different we worked in diversity
was no different we worked in diversity and inclusion we knew what we were
and inclusion we knew what we were
and inclusion we knew what we were talking about right but like most in the
talking about right but like most in the
talking about right but like most in the community we convened people that made
community we convened people that made
community we convened people that made us feel comfortable people that had
us feel comfortable people that had
us feel comfortable people that had titles not necessarily the community
titles not necessarily the community
titles not necessarily the community that actually was on the ground
that actually was on the ground
that actually was on the ground living this day to day and having the
living this day to day and having the
living this day to day and having the hard work I was invited because with my
hard work I was invited because with my
hard work I was invited because with my title
title
title no one asked me about my experience in
no one asked me about my experience in
no one asked me about my experience in Ferguson
Ferguson
Ferguson no one asked me about my experience with
no one asked me about my experience with
no one asked me about my experience with my race they just wanted my expertise
my race they just wanted my expertise
my race they just wanted my expertise and so this was a time in which I said
and so this was a time in which I said
and so this was a time in which I said this is enough I’m tired of this
this is enough I’m tired of this
this is enough I’m tired of this fragmented way in which we address
fragmented way in which we address
fragmented way in which we address problems within our region so like many
problems within our region so like many
problems within our region so like many I started to ask the question of how
I started to ask the question of how
I started to ask the question of how should I or how should we respond
should I or how should we respond
should I or how should we respond because we saw that it was necessary but
because we saw that it was necessary but
because we saw that it was necessary but yet when we think about building
yet when we think about building
yet when we think about building inclusive communities or equable
inclusive communities or equable
inclusive communities or equable communities they have never been
communities they have never been
communities they have never been accomplished and so we are literally
accomplished and so we are literally
accomplished and so we are literally trying and experimenting to get there
trying and experimenting to get there
trying and experimenting to get there but for me I also started to ask the
but for me I also started to ask the
but for me I also started to ask the question of why should designers and
question of why should designers and
question of why should designers and creative practitioners respond because
creative practitioners respond because
creative practitioners respond because many times we’re not invited to the
many times we’re not invited to the
many times we’re not invited to the table if we’re invited someone maybe
table if we’re invited someone maybe
table if we’re invited someone maybe sketched something on a napkin slid it
sketched something on a napkin slid it
sketched something on a napkin slid it our way and say hey make it happen for
our way and say hey make it happen for
our way and say hey make it happen for me
me
me we love to consume art and design but we
we love to consume art and design but we
we love to consume art and design but we don’t always appreciate the producers of
don’t always appreciate the producers of
don’t always appreciate the producers of it and so I directly wanted to bring
it and so I directly wanted to bring
it and so I directly wanted to bring designers into this conversation and
designers into this conversation and
designers into this conversation and designers I really wanted to be there
designers I really wanted to be there
designers I really wanted to be there because they are navigators of
because they are navigators of
because they are navigators of complexity in ambiguous situations every
complexity in ambiguous situations every
complexity in ambiguous situations every single day they build something out of
single day they build something out of
single day they build something out of nothing
nothing
nothing every single day but then also when you
every single day but then also when you
every single day but then also when you think about design design is
think about design design is
think about design design is everywhere and it is everything the
everywhere and it is everything the
everywhere and it is everything the clothes we are wearing the building in
clothes we are wearing the building in
clothes we are wearing the building in which we’re sitting in right now but
which we’re sitting in right now but
which we’re sitting in right now but then design isn’t just the tangible it’s
then design isn’t just the tangible it’s
then design isn’t just the tangible it’s also the intangible our systems have
also the intangible our systems have
also the intangible our systems have been designed just like our systems of
been designed just like our systems of
been designed just like our systems of oppression our systems of inequalities
oppression our systems of inequalities
oppression our systems of inequalities our systems of inequities now many
our systems of inequities now many
our systems of inequities now many people are talking about how they want
people are talking about how they want
people are talking about how they want to address inequities within a region
to address inequities within a region
to address inequities within a region and many of them have not even tried to
and many of them have not even tried to
and many of them have not even tried to define what that means I can’t tell you
define what that means I can’t tell you
define what that means I can’t tell you how many company has said that we really
how many company has said that we really
how many company has said that we really believe in diversity inclusion and
believe in diversity inclusion and
believe in diversity inclusion and equity but don’t actually have people at
equity but don’t actually have people at
equity but don’t actually have people at the table that know what diversity
the table that know what diversity
the table that know what diversity inclusion equity actually stands for so
inclusion equity actually stands for so
inclusion equity actually stands for so I use the definition that for through
I use the definition that for through
I use the definition that for through Ferguson developed in which they said
Ferguson developed in which they said
Ferguson developed in which they said that racial equity is when outcomes are
that racial equity is when outcomes are
that racial equity is when outcomes are not predicted by race so I’ll give
not predicted by race so I’ll give
not predicted by race so I’ll give examples blacks are incarcerated five
examples blacks are incarcerated five
examples blacks are incarcerated five times the rate as White’s the Latin ex
times the rate as White’s the Latin ex
times the rate as White’s the Latin ex population two times the rate on average
population two times the rate on average
population two times the rate on average it would take the black community 228
it would take the black community 228
it would take the black community 228 years to accumulate the same amount of
years to accumulate the same amount of
years to accumulate the same amount of wealth as whites that is 17 years shy of
wealth as whites that is 17 years shy of
wealth as whites that is 17 years shy of slavery it will take the latinized
slavery it will take the latinized
slavery it will take the latinized population to the Year 2097
population to the Year 2097
population to the Year 2097 these are not personal decisions these
these are not personal decisions these
these are not personal decisions these are systems that have been designed
so at this time I made a vow to start
so at this time I made a vow to start actually working towards equity and at
actually working towards equity and at
actually working towards equity and at that time my original way of doing this
that time my original way of doing this
that time my original way of doing this and this has now shifted a little but it
and this has now shifted a little but it
and this has now shifted a little but it was to react and to develop a 24-hour
was to react and to develop a 24-hour
was to react and to develop a 24-hour challenge that brought together
challenge that brought together
challenge that brought together designers technologists and activists I
designers technologists and activists I
designers technologists and activists I did this on August 23rd where they
did this on August 23rd where they
did this on August 23rd where they actually worked for 24 hours many of
actually worked for 24 hours many of
actually worked for 24 hours many of them did not sleep I did I mean if you
them did not sleep I did I mean if you
them did not sleep I did I mean if you count sleeping on the floor for two
count sleeping on the floor for two
count sleeping on the floor for two hours sleep yep I got a lot of sleep
hours sleep yep I got a lot of sleep
hours sleep yep I got a lot of sleep that night I worked with them for a year
that night I worked with them for a year
that night I worked with them for a year to bring those ideas to life from st.
to bring those ideas to life from st.
to bring those ideas to life from st. Louis all five were activated within a
Louis all five were activated within a
Louis all five were activated within a year and three are still active to this
year and three are still active to this
year and three are still active to this day and so I want to talk to you about
day and so I want to talk to you about
day and so I want to talk to you about how some of these projects were
how some of these projects were
how some of these projects were addressing these common issues within
addressing these common issues within
addressing these common issues within our lives that we sometimes want to
our lives that we sometimes want to
our lives that we sometimes want to pretend are not there for example when
pretend are not there for example when
pretend are not there for example when thinking about design if these systems
thinking about design if these systems
thinking about design if these systems have been designed then why are we not
have been designed then why are we not
have been designed then why are we not using design to dismantle them why are
using design to dismantle them why are
using design to dismantle them why are we not using intentional and equitable
we not using intentional and equitable
we not using intentional and equitable design to actually fight for better
design to actually fight for better
design to actually fight for better communities one of the projects called
communities one of the projects called
communities one of the projects called cards against brutality created by
cards against brutality created by
cards against brutality created by Christian David and Nandhini was looking
Christian David and Nandhini was looking
Christian David and Nandhini was looking at media narration and framing like
at media narration and framing like
at media narration and framing like sexual assault victims victims of police
sexual assault victims victims of police
sexual assault victims victims of police brutality or victim blamed I personally
brutality or victim blamed I personally
brutality or victim blamed I personally think that thug is the new n-word and
think that thug is the new n-word and
think that thug is the new n-word and they directly
we’re saying instead of giving labels or
we’re saying instead of giving labels or justifications for killing people or
justifications for killing people or
justifications for killing people or treating people wrongly let’s actually
treating people wrongly let’s actually
treating people wrongly let’s actually call them who they actually are which
call them who they actually are which
call them who they actually are which was someone’s mother father brother
was someone’s mother father brother
was someone’s mother father brother sister student teacher neighbor but this
sister student teacher neighbor but this
sister student teacher neighbor but this tool wasn’t just a card deck it was to
tool wasn’t just a card deck it was to
tool wasn’t just a card deck it was to be used within the educational system so
be used within the educational system so
be used within the educational system so that we can actually work with you that
that we can actually work with you that
that we can actually work with you that are highly impacted and who allowed them
are highly impacted and who allowed them
are highly impacted and who allowed them to have agency to rise up to talk about
to have agency to rise up to talk about
to have agency to rise up to talk about these issues at large then we had to
these issues at large then we had to
these issues at large then we had to look beyond your fear project created by
look beyond your fear project created by
look beyond your fear project created by Jordan and this project was directly
Jordan and this project was directly
Jordan and this project was directly looking at culture of fear within our
looking at culture of fear within our
looking at culture of fear within our region within our community within our
region within our community within our
region within our community within our society because we allow fear to justify
society because we allow fear to justify
society because we allow fear to justify mistreatment we used the term safety and
mistreatment we used the term safety and
mistreatment we used the term safety and hide behind it when really safety is
hide behind it when really safety is
hide behind it when really safety is another way of just leading our
another way of just leading our
another way of just leading our assumptions and stereotypes to treat
assumptions and stereotypes to treat
assumptions and stereotypes to treat people a certain way and so this project
people a certain way and so this project
people a certain way and so this project wanted us to look in the mirror and say
wanted us to look in the mirror and say
wanted us to look in the mirror and say what are you actually fearful of because
what are you actually fearful of because
what are you actually fearful of because statistics actually show that blacks men
statistics actually show that blacks men
statistics actually show that blacks men actually have a culture of fear around
actually have a culture of fear around
actually have a culture of fear around them you’re more than likely to cross
them you’re more than likely to cross
them you’re more than likely to cross the street clutch your purse lean closer
the street clutch your purse lean closer
the street clutch your purse lean closer to the door in the elevator these are
to the door in the elevator these are
to the door in the elevator these are not one-off occurrences these are actual
not one-off occurrences these are actual
not one-off occurrences these are actual systems but this project has expanded
systems but this project has expanded
systems but this project has expanded beyond that to look at fear of the
beyond that to look at fear of the
beyond that to look at fear of the legalization of marijuana of capitalism
legalization of marijuana of capitalism
legalization of marijuana of capitalism or what I would look at is pretty timely
or what I would look at is pretty timely
or what I would look at is pretty timely right now political affiliation then we
right now political affiliation then we
right now political affiliation then we have five switch that was created by
have five switch that was created by
have five switch that was created by Jabin and Jess and now actually brought
Jabin and Jess and now actually brought
Jabin and Jess and now actually brought a new team member honor his name is
a new team member honor his name is
a new team member honor his name is Brian and this project was looking at
Brian and this project was looking at
Brian and this project was looking at stereotypes because we’ve all been
stereotypes because we’ve all been
stereotypes because we’ve all been stereotyped in some form of fashion but
stereotyped in some form of fashion but
stereotyped in some form of fashion but the opposite of being stereotyped is our
the opposite of being stereotyped is our
the opposite of being stereotyped is our own individuality which is something
own individuality which is something
own individuality which is something that we all have and it’s beautiful we
that we all have and it’s beautiful we
that we all have and it’s beautiful we should not be lumped into a bucket
should not be lumped into a bucket
should not be lumped into a bucket and then fit in told that this is who
and then fit in told that this is who
and then fit in told that this is who you are I’d like to give an example that
you are I’d like to give an example that
you are I’d like to give an example that has an african-american woman people
has an african-american woman people
has an african-american woman people assumed that I love R&B I don’t it’s a
assumed that I love R&B I don’t it’s a
assumed that I love R&B I don’t it’s a little too slow for me but that is part
little too slow for me but that is part
little too slow for me but that is part of who I am as a person and that’s okay
of who I am as a person and that’s okay
of who I am as a person and that’s okay because we are intersectional we are
because we are intersectional we are
because we are intersectional we are complex beings and we shouldn’t treat
complex beings and we shouldn’t treat
complex beings and we shouldn’t treat people wrongly or differently because
people wrongly or differently because
people wrongly or differently because they are different in you because guess
they are different in you because guess
they are different in you because guess what everyone is different than you then
what everyone is different than you then
what everyone is different than you then we had connected for justice
we had connected for justice
we had connected for justice created by Deandra Nichols yes she does
created by Deandra Nichols yes she does
created by Deandra Nichols yes she does a lot this project was looking at and
a lot this project was looking at and
a lot this project was looking at and building upon a framework she developed
building upon a framework she developed
building upon a framework she developed called civic matchmaking because Dee was
called civic matchmaking because Dee was
called civic matchmaking because Dee was one of those people that was on the
one of those people that was on the
one of those people that was on the ground regularly doing the hard work but
ground regularly doing the hard work but
ground regularly doing the hard work but she also acknowledged it that there were
she also acknowledged it that there were
she also acknowledged it that there were many that were not able to be there for
many that were not able to be there for
many that were not able to be there for many different reasons and so she
many different reasons and so she
many different reasons and so she created a site in which people could
created a site in which people could
created a site in which people could volunteer different actions and
volunteer different actions and
volunteer different actions and interventions and then others who
interventions and then others who
interventions and then others who volunteer to make it happen when this
volunteer to make it happen when this
volunteer to make it happen when this site shut down at the end of 2014 over
site shut down at the end of 2014 over
site shut down at the end of 2014 over 700 actions had occurred because of this
700 actions had occurred because of this
700 actions had occurred because of this site and she is currently even
site and she is currently even
site and she is currently even reconsidering bringing it back because
reconsidering bringing it back because
reconsidering bringing it back because of what’s happening with Anthony Lamar
of what’s happening with Anthony Lamar
of what’s happening with Anthony Lamar Smith and the current protests that are
Smith and the current protests that are
Smith and the current protests that are happening in our community then we had
happening in our community then we had
happening in our community then we had the red table project created by Emily
the red table project created by Emily
the red table project created by Emily Christian and Anna and Dee but I refuse
Christian and Anna and Dee but I refuse
Christian and Anna and Dee but I refuse to put her on this slide this project
to put her on this slide this project
to put her on this slide this project was looking at something that we know
was looking at something that we know
was looking at something that we know all too well in st. Louis
all too well in st. Louis
all too well in st. Louis segregation we’ve heard people talk
segregation we’ve heard people talk
segregation we’ve heard people talk about the Delmar divide as stated that
about the Delmar divide as stated that
about the Delmar divide as stated that is just one street that is showing heavy
is just one street that is showing heavy
is just one street that is showing heavy segregation in our city st. Louis is one
segregation in our city st. Louis is one
segregation in our city st. Louis is one of the most segregated cities in the
of the most segregated cities in the
of the most segregated cities in the country
and this project wanted to address it
and this project wanted to address it because when we look at Delmar divide we
because when we look at Delmar divide we
because when we look at Delmar divide we hear the statistics right we hear that
hear the statistics right we hear that
hear the statistics right we hear that one side of the street is primarily
one side of the street is primarily
one side of the street is primarily african-american that they have
african-american that they have
african-american that they have low-income homes condemned houses
low-income homes condemned houses
low-income homes condemned houses limited amenities on the other side the
limited amenities on the other side the
limited amenities on the other side the streets we have high-rise hotels
streets we have high-rise hotels
streets we have high-rise hotels boutiques condos but for me personally
boutiques condos but for me personally
boutiques condos but for me personally this is a personal connection
this is a personal connection
this is a personal connection my mother has lived on the side in a
my mother has lived on the side in a
my mother has lived on the side in a condemned home my godparents who are
condemned home my godparents who are
condemned home my godparents who are white live in a condo on the other side
white live in a condo on the other side
white live in a condo on the other side I know the stark reality too well and
I know the stark reality too well and
I know the stark reality too well and what can we do to bring individuals
what can we do to bring individuals
what can we do to bring individuals together to cross the street and turn
together to cross the street and turn
together to cross the street and turn strangers into neighbors because we’ve
strangers into neighbors because we’ve
strangers into neighbors because we’ve lost human connection and when bringing
lost human connection and when bringing
lost human connection and when bringing people together have conversations like
people together have conversations like
people together have conversations like what’s your zodiac sign what’s your
what’s your zodiac sign what’s your
what’s your zodiac sign what’s your favorite type ice cream maybe can I
favorite type ice cream maybe can I
favorite type ice cream maybe can I borrow a cup of sugar things that we’ve
borrow a cup of sugar things that we’ve
borrow a cup of sugar things that we’ve lost over times where I’ll admittedly
lost over times where I’ll admittedly
lost over times where I’ll admittedly say I don’t even know my neighbors names
say I don’t even know my neighbors names
say I don’t even know my neighbors names and I’ve lived in my town home complex
and I’ve lived in my town home complex
and I’ve lived in my town home complex for four years but my husband knows all
for four years but my husband knows all
for four years but my husband knows all of them so I feel like we’re good but in
of them so I feel like we’re good but in
of them so I feel like we’re good but in going through this process one of the
going through this process one of the
going through this process one of the things that I learned I had to do and I
things that I learned I had to do and I
things that I learned I had to do and I will challenge society to do is to
will challenge society to do is to
will challenge society to do is to redefine what we mean by design and
redefine what we mean by design and
redefine what we mean by design and designers because nurses are designers
designers because nurses are designers
designers because nurses are designers lawyers are designers activists are
lawyers are designers activists are
lawyers are designers activists are designers accountants are designers and
designers accountants are designers and
designers accountants are designers and when we acknowledge that we are all
when we acknowledge that we are all
when we acknowledge that we are all playing a role in designing our society
playing a role in designing our society
playing a role in designing our society the question we need to ask ourselves
the question we need to ask ourselves
the question we need to ask ourselves are we designing it for the better and
are we designing it for the better and
are we designing it for the better and if not what are we going to do about
if not what are we going to do about
if not what are we going to do about that design is powerful it can break
that design is powerful it can break
that design is powerful it can break down language barriers it can bring
down language barriers it can bring
down language barriers it can bring people together in protests design is
people together in protests design is
people together in protests design is culture design is a movement and as
culture design is a movement and as
culture design is a movement and as designers we need to make sure that we
designers we need to make sure that we
designers we need to make sure that we are building a strong
are building a strong
are building a strong an equable culture at my organization
an equable culture at my organization
an equable culture at my organization creative reaction lab we’ve been
creative reaction lab we’ve been
creative reaction lab we’ve been directly trying to do this training
directly trying to do this training
directly trying to do this training people working with people developing
people working with people developing
people working with people developing resources and tools to learn how to work
resources and tools to learn how to work
resources and tools to learn how to work together and design better societies one
together and design better societies one
together and design better societies one of the tools we developed is the table
of the tools we developed is the table
of the tools we developed is the table collaboration in which we look at the
collaboration in which we look at the
collaboration in which we look at the values and expertise that everyone
values and expertise that everyone
values and expertise that everyone brings to the table when collaborating
brings to the table when collaborating
brings to the table when collaborating and working together for instance the
and working together for instance the
and working together for instance the creative sector they are experts on
creative sector they are experts on
creative sector they are experts on problem solving on creativity on
problem solving on creativity on
problem solving on creativity on building empathy or in human connection
building empathy or in human connection
building empathy or in human connection we need them at the table social and
we need them at the table social and
we need them at the table social and civic sectors are the frontline
civic sectors are the frontline
civic sectors are the frontline responders to many of these issues they
responders to many of these issues they
responders to many of these issues they know the history theory and policy of
know the history theory and policy of
know the history theory and policy of whatever issue you’re trying to address
whatever issue you’re trying to address
whatever issue you’re trying to address we need them at the table the business
we need them at the table the business
we need them at the table the business sector and while we love to call them
sector and while we love to call them
sector and while we love to call them for their money because we love their
for their money because we love their
for their money because we love their money we also need them at the table
money we also need them at the table
money we also need them at the table because they are able to test the
because they are able to test the
because they are able to test the scalability viability feasibility of
scalability viability feasibility of
scalability viability feasibility of whatever intervention and approach that
whatever intervention and approach that
whatever intervention and approach that you develop which we need more than ever
you develop which we need more than ever
you develop which we need more than ever we have too many yoyo solutions being
we have too many yoyo solutions being
we have too many yoyo solutions being developed so that is the ego driven if
developed so that is the ego driven if
developed so that is the ego driven if we’re addressing systemic issues we need
we’re addressing systemic issues we need
we’re addressing systemic issues we need systemic approaches and they will help
systemic approaches and they will help
systemic approaches and they will help us think through long-term sustainable
us think through long-term sustainable
us think through long-term sustainable ways and then last but definitely not
ways and then last but definitely not
ways and then last but definitely not least we need our community members or
least we need our community members or
least we need our community members or as I like to call i living experts they
as I like to call i living experts they
as I like to call i living experts they know that day to day impact of whatever
know that day to day impact of whatever
know that day to day impact of whatever issue you’re trying to address but many
issue you’re trying to address but many
issue you’re trying to address but many times they are excluded from the
times they are excluded from the
times they are excluded from the conversation because they may not have a
conversation because they may not have a
conversation because they may not have a title or a certain degree but I
title or a certain degree but I
title or a certain degree but I guarantee the degree in life that they
guarantee the degree in life that they
guarantee the degree in life that they have was way more powerful than in a BFA
have was way more powerful than in a BFA
have was way more powerful than in a BFA MFA so that you ever could have
so when collaborating and working
so when collaborating and working together we all become the researchers
together we all become the researchers
together we all become the researchers and the strategist and the teachers and
and the strategist and the teachers and
and the strategist and the teachers and the doers we become a community we
the doers we become a community we
the doers we become a community we become the owners another thing that
become the owners another thing that
become the owners another thing that we’ve been thinking about is how do we
we’ve been thinking about is how do we
we’ve been thinking about is how do we actually problem-solve through the lives
actually problem-solve through the lives
actually problem-solve through the lives of equity and so we’ve developed a new
of equity and so we’ve developed a new
of equity and so we’ve developed a new form of creative problem-solving called
form of creative problem-solving called
form of creative problem-solving called equity Center Community Design that
equity Center Community Design that
equity Center Community Design that brings intentionality to the work
brings intentionality to the work
brings intentionality to the work how are you inviting people to the table
how are you inviting people to the table
how are you inviting people to the table have you thought about barriers of
have you thought about barriers of
have you thought about barriers of access when actually working together
access when actually working together
access when actually working together are you thinking about humility building
are you thinking about humility building
are you thinking about humility building in addition to your empathy because we
in addition to your empathy because we
in addition to your empathy because we love to talk about empathy because it’s
love to talk about empathy because it’s
love to talk about empathy because it’s us focusing on others but we never want
us focusing on others but we never want
us focusing on others but we never want to talk about ourselves and how flawed
to talk about ourselves and how flawed
to talk about ourselves and how flawed we are and our biases and the role that
we are and our biases and the role that
we are and our biases and the role that we’re playing what about our history and
we’re playing what about our history and
we’re playing what about our history and the trauma associated with our history
the trauma associated with our history
the trauma associated with our history and how do we integrate healing within
and how do we integrate healing within
and how do we integrate healing within the process power dynamics and how do we
the process power dynamics and how do we
the process power dynamics and how do we move from just having conversations to
move from just having conversations to
move from just having conversations to space of action in doing and so what I
space of action in doing and so what I
space of action in doing and so what I want you to do if nothing else today is
want you to do if nothing else today is
want you to do if nothing else today is two things one I want you to consider
two things one I want you to consider
two things one I want you to consider yourself a designer because you are but
yourself a designer because you are but
yourself a designer because you are but then the second thing I want you to do
then the second thing I want you to do
then the second thing I want you to do is say you know what being a designer is
is say you know what being a designer is
is say you know what being a designer is not enough I want to be an equity
not enough I want to be an equity
not enough I want to be an equity centered
centered
centered designer because we it has taken
designer because we it has taken
designer because we it has taken centuries for us to get to where we are
centuries for us to get to where we are
centuries for us to get to where we are today and we need all of us to come
today and we need all of us to come
today and we need all of us to come together to design a better future for
together to design a better future for
together to design a better future for tomorrow thank you
tomorrow thank you
tomorrow thank you [Applause]
”
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