Inspiring People: Stories of Innovation and Service

Get ready to get your hands dirty. Area 2 Farms isn't just about farming; it's a hyper-local, soil-centric, and tech-savvy agricultural model pioneering the future of food by growing delicious, fresh, organic produce right inside urban centers. They've figured out how to make your salad greens more connected to your community. Prepare to learn how they're cultivating both crops and community, one surprisingly complex root vegetable at a time.Oren Falkowitz is a farmer and the CEO of Area 2 Farms. Oren began his career at the National Security Agency (NSA), where he held senior positions, and served at United States Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM). Previously he was the founder and CEO of sqrrl (acquired by Amazon) and Area 1 Security (acquired by Cloudflare). Oren holds numerous patents, has written a comic book, is known to have worn bow-ties on Thursdays, and is an avid completer of the New Times Crossword.To learn more, go to:https://www.area2farms.com/Learn What it Take to Be a Farmer: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbby5CSqEZfCW6MI8f8u1HA Follow Oren: https://x.com/orenfalkowitz Follow the Farmers: https://www.instagram.com/area2farms

Traditional models of charity are unsustainable. Prof Jack Sim is a Master of the Leverage Model of Social Innovation, and he will explain how to use small budgets to create massively scalable impact sustainably.Professor Jack Sim, a.k.a. ""Mr Toilet,"" took up a neglected global sanitation crisis and mobilized the world's governments to solve this problem. Over the last 25 years, he created a movement that brought proper sanitation to 2.5 billion people, created the UN World Toilet Day (19th November) unanimously adopted by 193 countries at the UN General Assembly in 2013, cleaned up all of China's public toilets, and successfully lobbied the Brazilian Senate to pass a privatization bill that attracted US $44B investments into Brazilian sewage treatment plants.To learn more, go to:https://www.worldtoilet.orgTo take a look at Sim's book, The Gumption of Mr Toilet, go to:https://www.penguin.sg/book/the-gumption-of-mr-toilet/

A few years ago, Steve Baughman Jensen discovered that his third-great-grandfather wasn't just a slave owner — he was a slave trader who "invested his surplus earnings in negroes." He also helped lead a paramilitary organization that sought to preserve and expand slavery. This is an ancestor Steve's beloved grandmother had celebrated. One whose framed poem hung in Steve's den. Steve has now written a book about confronting him — and other ancestors who passed down to me the false story that white people are better than everyone else. Steve confronts his ancestors because stories build identities and drive systems, and his family’s story helped build systems that still harm people today. The conversations demonstrate how imagination can make these hard truths more personal, and therefore more real. At the same time, these visits with dead family members offer healing. They help Steve recognize the spots in his own thoughts and behavior where he's inherited not only genetics, but also a toxic story. They help metabolize grief and shame into responsibility. Steve spent 23 years as a trial lawyer, seeking justice on behalf of individuals who became sick from toxic exposures. Mental health issues brought that chapter of his story to a close 10 years ago. Today, Steve is a writer, a racial justice advocate, and a proud husband, father, and grandfather. He believes in the power of stories to shape and transform us.To learn more about Steve's work, go to:https://healingwhitehistory.substack.com/https://www.youtube.com/@healingwhitehistory

Project Ix Kuk is a women’s health initiative in Guatemala focused on preventing cervical cancer through community-based HPV screening and immediate care. Working in partnership with local midwives, hospitals, and public health leaders, the project introduces self-collected HPV testing using modern PCR technology and ensures timely follow-up with visual examination and same-day treatment when needed. By centering privacy, cultural respect, and local capacity-building, Project Ix Kuk strengthens existing healthcare systems, reduces barriers to early detection, and helps protect women’s health long before cervical cancer can develop.Janet Gluch has been a dedicated member of the Santa Cruz Rotary Club since 2010, driven by her passion for making a meaningful difference in the world. Her commitment to international service is reflected in 17 humanitarian trips across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, where she has worked alongside local Rotarians to tackle complex challenges such as access to safe water, education, and women’s health. Janet is especially committed to advancing community health for women in developing countries, where resources are often limited.Retired from a successful career in nonprofit management and fund development, Janet now lends her expertise by serving on several boards. She has degrees both in Business Management and Pastoral Ministry. Outside of her service work, she enjoys time with family, traveling, and expressing her creativity through oil painting.To learn more about this grant project, go to:https://www.ixkuk.org/

This talk will be about the problem in our society when progress is hindered by our irrational fear and attachment to past conventions. I will focus on medicine and why any groundbreaking shift in our medical practice has been slow.Josef Parvizi, M.D., Ph.D., is a neurologist and neuroscientist best known for his pioneering work in studying the human brain in neurosurgical patients using intracranial neurophysiological recordings and direct electrical stimulations of the brain. He is currently a Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University. He is also the founder of Ceribell Inc., a public company that developed a rapid EEG system and AI-based detection of brain abnormalities aimed at improving neurological care in emergency and critical care settings. Ceribell’s mission, shaped by his vision, is to make brain monitoring accessible at the bedside through portable hardware and real-time AI analysis particularly for those who are not brain specialists.To read more about Dr Parvizi's recent work, read this post from the Stanford Center on Longevity:https://longevity.stanford.edu/an-ai-powered-stethoscope-for-the-brain/

Historically redlined urban neighborhoods often face disproportionate environmental challenges, including flooding, loss of biodiversity, urban heat island effects, and air and soil pollution. The Miyawaki afforestation method, featuring dense planting of native species in revitalized soil, offers a fast, nature-based solution for restoring ecological function in these communities. By accelerating natural forest succession up to ten times faster than traditional planting approaches, this technique enables rapid regeneration of degraded urban landscapes.In this presentation, Dr. Daniela Shebitz of Kean University and John Evangelista of Groundwork Elizabeth will share their approach to establishing and monitoring Miyawaki microforests in Elizabeth, New Jersey. They will present preliminary findings from their first four years of research, demonstrating how these forests can help mitigate flooding, reduce heat, and boost biodiversity in the urban environment. Their collaborative work has received national attention, including features in The New York Times (“50 States, 50 Fixes”) and on NBC's TODAY.Dr. Daniela Shebitz holds a Ph.D. in Ecosystem Science from the University of Washington (2006), as well as a B.S. and M.S. from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. An ethnobotanist and plant ecologist, her work centers on integrating traditional and local knowledge into the restoration of culturally significant plants and ecosystems. Her research spans urban communities and Pine Barrens in New Jersey, the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, and the temperate forests of the Pacific Northwest. Dedicated to advancing sustainability in both education and the broader community, Dr. Shebitz focuses on conservation and restoration ecology, community-engaged learning, urban agriculture, and environmental justice. She chairs Kean University's Department of Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, is a past President of the Society of Ethnobiology, and currently serves as Vice President of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability (NJHEPS).Mr. John Evangelista is the Executive Director of Groundwork Elizabeth. With over thirty years of experience in farming, construction and agricultural practices, John works closely with local, state and federal partners to study current urban agricultural practices and introduce them back into underserved areas through educational programs and activities for seniors, adults and children. As director for Groundwork USA's cutting edge environmental project known as the Climate Safe Neighborhood (CSN) partnership, John is working with local residents and stakeholders to increase awareness of the relationship between the city's history of housing segregation and the current and predicted impacts of climate change. Focused on the formerly redlined neighborhoods of Bayway and Elizabethport, and the green lined Elmora neighborhood, the project aims to identify and prioritize climate mitigation measures related to extreme heat, flooding, and CSO events. To learn more, go to:https://groundworkelizabeth.org/ https://www.today.com/video/why-microforests-are-being-planted-in-urban-areas-250008133972https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/climate/new-jersey-tiny-forests.html

How can meaningful travel go beyond sightseeing to create lasting impact? Brains, Borders, and Betterment dives into how immersive volunteer experiences can transform both the communities served and the travelers themselves. Together, we’ll discuss how to use intelligence, creativity, and compassion to approach global challenges, break down borders, and create better outcomes for all involved.Our speaker, Kimberly Haley-Coleman, is the Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has been creating short-term, immersive volunteer programs in 26 countries for over 25 years. Under her leadership, Globe Aware has partnered with universities, corporations, and philanthropic networks to provide volunteers with well-organized, impactful opportunities to serve communities worldwide.In addition to leading Globe Aware, Kimberly chairs the Volunteer Programs Association, which provides a "Good Housekeeping" seal of approval for volunteer programs that meet rigorous quality and accountability standards. She is passionate about connecting people across cultures, advocating for ethical and sustainable travel, and empowering individuals to make a measurable difference through hands-on service.To learn more, go to:Website: https://www.globeaware.org/ Youtube: https://youtube.com/@globeaware X Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlobeAware TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@globe_aware Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/6n9cfb4QIVb2aqUD6XSttE Kimberly Haley-ColemanLinkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyglobeaware/ Globe Aware:YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@GlobeAware Instagram https://www.instagram.com/globeaware/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/globeaware Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/globe-aware/

In a world where one-third of all food produced goes to waste, Insectflux introduces a groundbreaking solution at the intersection of technology, agriculture, and sustainability. This presentation explores how Insectflux, the world’s first global B2B2C marketplace, connects the agri-food industry with the insect-farming sector to transform organic waste into high-value resources, such as protein, fertilizer, oils, and bioproducts.Here’s how the platform works:→ Food producers (farms, restaurants, processors, grocery chains, hotels, etc.) list their organic byproducts, surplus, and waste.→ Insect farms buy and use these inputs to raise black soldier flies, crickets, mealworms, etc., producing sustainable outputs like protein and fertilizer.→ These products are then sold on the same platform to buyers in biotech, aquaculture, regenerative agriculture, pet food, cosmetics, and more, closing the loop within a zero-waste, circular economy.By linking two industries facing parallel challenges, Insectflux exemplifies how systemic innovation can unlock abundance and resilience for the planet. They're bringing to reality the idea that nothing is lost, nothing is wasted, and everything is transformed. Our speaker, Jason Elate, is the founder and CEO of Insectflux, a climate-tech startup redefining how the world tackles the global food waste crisis. With a double major in Politics and Economics, Jason initially set out to become a diplomat but pivoted before entering the corporate world to build something bold: a company that addresses real global problems with real, scalable solutions.Through Insectflux, Jason is creating a global digital ecosystem connecting the $10T agri-food sector with the rapidly growing $2.5B insect-farming industry. His mission is to digitize, democratize, and decarbonize food systems while enabling new circular economies worldwide. He believes there is already enough abundance on this planet; the key lies in building better systems to unlock it.

Mike Leggett shares insights from over two decades of international experience in transformative education and capacity building. He explores how shifting from models of aid to models of empowerment can unleash the potential of teachers and youth to become catalysts of social change. Drawing from the work of Fundashon Awenyo in Curaçao and beyond, he invites a deep rethinking of what it truly means to invest in people, not programs.Mike Leggett is an educator and capacity-building specialist with over twenty years of experience working with schools and educational systems across Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and the Pacific. He holds a Master of Science in Education and Capacity Building from the University of Guelph, where his research explored models of transformative learning in rural Colombia. Now based in Curaçao, Mike leads Fundashon Awenyo, a non-profit organization dedicated to reimagining teacher development and youth empowerment as pathways to social transformation.Through Awenyo's programs, he works alongside educators and young people to cultivate leadership, critical reflection, and a spirit of service, helping communities strengthen their own capacity to learn and grow. Michael’s approach is deeply collaborative and rooted in the belief that education should not merely transmit knowledge, but awaken the potential within each individual to become an active agent of change.To learn more, go to:https://www.awenyo.org

This week we'll hear about a personal climate journey and its relationship to Rotary environmental projects locally and internationally. Protecting the environment was added as Rotary's 7th Area of Focus in 2020.DeAnna Pursai is a proud dual Rotarian, member of the San Jose Rotary Club since 2015 and an honorary member of the Saratoga Rotary Club since 2022. She’s been a founding member of the Rotary Climate Action Committee of San Jose, and now serves as the District 5170 Climate Action Council Chair as well as the Vice Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group BigWest Chapter. She is a trained climate ambassador with Al Gore's Climate Reality Project, and she’s a member of Climate Citizens Lobby and Mothers Out Front. She's got a personal mission to talk about climate each day to anyone she can. In her professional career, DeAnna Pursai holds a Master's in Education Policy Analysis in the School of Education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Purdue University. DeAnna was named a CNN Hero in 2021 and has been named an Architect of Change on the Maria Shriver blog in 2015. She proudly serves on the board of Christmas in the Park. She is big sister to Angel Ellenberger, who happens to have Down syndrome and is an exquisite actress, entertainer and comedian. DeAnna gave a TEDx talk in Helsinki, Finland, on the theme of Amplifying Silent Voices in October, 2025.To learn more about ESRAG, go to:https://esrag.org/District 5170 Climate Action Committee:https://www.rotarydistrict5170.org/climate-action/Katherine Hayhoe's TED Talk:https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_hayhoe_the_most_important_thing_you_can_do_to_fight_climate_change_talk_about_itHayhoe's book: Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided Worldhttps://www.amazon.com/Saving-Us-Climate-Scientists-Healing-ebook/dp/B08BZW2BQG/

Imagine Worldwide's goal is to solve the literacy and numeracy crisis for millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa. Foundational learning is the key to unlocking a child’s potential -- improving their health, wealth, and social outcomes -- and these improvements extend to future generations. With nearly half of global youth being African by 2030, the urgency to find a scalable learning solution is paramount. Imagine Worldwide partners with philanthropists, governments, organizations, and communities to provide child-directed, tablet-based learning that operates offline and is solar-powered, making it accessible, effective, and affordable. Their model is massively scalable, research-based, and has an unparalleled cost/benefit ratio. Imagine Worldwide works to harness innovation, government commitments, and highly-targeted philanthropy to catalyze exponential impact for millions of the world's most underserved children. Here's a short video introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Hi1U_-6XkoOur speaker, Joe Wolf, is Co-CEO and Co-founder of Imagine Worldwide. Joe is passionately committed to eliminating global educational inequity through scalable solutions and he has dedicated the past decade of his career to launching, supporting, and leading educational philanthropies and nonprofit organizations. Joe co-founded Imagine to help all children achieve the foundational literacy and numeracy skills they need to achieve their full potential. Imagine serves some of the world's most marginalized children. Joe co-founded The Learning Accelerator and Open Up Resources, two highly successful nonprofits focused on innovation and equity in the U.S. K-12 market. He has also served on the boards of the Clayton Christensen Institute, NPX Advisors, Summer Search, New Classrooms, and the New Schools Venture Fund. Joe is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and Harvard Business School. He has three school-aged children, is a mountain biker and meditator, and loves all things in the natural world. Joe is based in California, USA.Learn more about Imagine Worldwide on our website: https://imagineworldwide.orgWatch this overview video about Imagine Worldwide and our work in Malawi: https://bit.ly/4e6yzPUT

The convergence of advanced genomic sequencing technologies and innovative environmental sampling approaches are enabling discovery at whole biome scales and across the tree of life, from microbes to mammals. These technologies are taking us ever closer to the realization of the lifeform detection capabilities of the fictional Star Trek tricorder. Environmental DNA (eDNA) comprises trace amounts of genetic material shed by organisms as they traverse and interact with their environment. Genetic material can enter the environment from shed skin, hair, scales, bodily fluids, defecation and even with every exhaled breath. This genetic material can now be recovered from the air, water or sediment samples, and can reveal a wealth of information about a region’s inhabitants, from sea turtles to bobcats (lynx), humans to mosquitoes, and even microbes and allergens.These ultra-rich eDNA genomics datasets can be used to quantify the genetic material from each organism and understand what species are present, their origin, and their genetic diversity. These emerging technologies enable the simultaneous study of viral to vertebrate genomes, and unlock their genetic secrets for a wide variety of downstream applications. These include (1) biodiversity monitoring, (2) flora, fauna and microbial population genetics, (3) pathogen and disease vector genomic surveillance, (4) allergen and narcotic surveillance, (5) antimicrobial resistance surveillance, (6) ecosystem-scale genome mining for drug discovery, and (7) human genetic diversity, disease risk, and genetic ancestry analyses from airborne DNA. This talk will introduce recent advances in airborne DNA genomics, discuss their implications, and explore their promise for diverse fields such as endangered wildlife conservation, genetic diversity and drug discovery, and pathogen and disease vector surveillance.David Duffy is the Condron Family Endowed Associate Professor of Wildlife Disease Genomics at the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience & Sea Turtle Hospital, with over 20 years' experience in molecular, genomics, wildlife conservation, cancer and environmental studies. His team conducts laboratory-based, clinical, computational and field-based research. His lab focuses on threats to sea turtles and biodiversity, including plastic ingestion and a sea turtle cancer induced by a pathogen and pollution exposure. The lab also works on the development of advanced eDNA technologies for wildlife, biodiversity, pollution and pathogen monitoring. This includes eDNA analysis from air, sediment and aquatic (freshwater, seawater, estuarine) sources. They also pioneer human eDNA applications.To learn more about Dr Duffy's work, go to:https://www.whitney.ufl.edu/people/current-research-faculty/david-duffy-phd/Science media article on airborne eDNA:https://www.science.org/content/article/dna-captured-air-could-track-wildlife-invasive-species-and-humansSea Turtle Hospital webpage:https://www.whitney.ufl.edu/conservation--sea-turtle-hospital/about-the-sea-turtle-hospital/Paper on airborne DNA genomics: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-025-02711-wMedia article on airborne eDNA:https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2025/0610/1518005-dublin-air-quality-dna-genetics-monitoring/Media article on airborne DNA genomics: https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2025/06/26/scanning-the-air-for-life/Human eDNA potential and ethical implications news story: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/science/environmental-dna-ethics-privacy.htmlHuman eDNA potential and ethical implications news story: https://us.cnn.com/2023/05/15/health/human-dna-captured-from-air-scn/index.htmlUSA Today news story on eDNA capabilities:https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2022/08/26/staggering-dna-advances-could-improve-response-climate-change/10000538002/Sea turtle cancers BBC television segment:https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/63125522

Libraries are more than places to borrow books; they are dynamic centers of community connection and resource sharing. From lending tools to hosting community meetings and supporting local solutions to global challenges, libraries play a vital role in the sharing economy. Present in diverse communities around the world, they enable patrons to engage and escape, key elements of personal and collective well-being. Join us to explore how libraries are advancing sharing and sustainability actions, discover inspiring examples of non-traditional lending programs, and learn how you can participate in this transformational community effort.Our speaker, Hazel Onsrud, is a public librarian at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine, in the United States. Onsrud works on community programming and collection development, including an extensive library of things focused on the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. She serves on the international Library of Things Mutual Aid Group, the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative and the Steering Team of MECollab. She enjoys collaborating with good humans around the globe and was named a 2024 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and a 2025 New York Times Changemaker. Prior to her work as public librarian, Hazel co-founded the Maine Tool Library and spent a bunch of time learning from graceful teachers. In her free time, she likes to create things, eat molés and design gardens.To learn more, go to:LOT Mutual Aid Group: https://sites.google.com/view/lotmutualaid/home Curtis Memorial Library Library of Things: https://curtislibrary.com/library-of-things/ Sustainable Libraries Initiative: https://www.sustainablelibrariesinitiative.org/ Emily Drabinski - The Stories of Librarieshttps://youtu.be/jTzhVjDujuY Sif Jensen - Unjudge Someone, the Human Libraryhttps://youtu.be/STpTmIo6EGQ Anthony Chow - Reading Nation Waterfall: Ensuring Equal Access to Books for All Childrenhttps://youtu.be/NhOhuUszuq0Purnima Rao and Shivam Singh - Building The People's Library: India's Free Library Movementhttps://youtu.be/W-gSoOwsBOY

This episode refers to a number of visuals that are in the video version which can be seen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fbnO3K6fxKt9pfaTp8mYn or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zxlfSvqAhOY• We believe the message is an important one, even if you do not watch the video, and hope that you will enjoy this and every episode of our series.Ben Schumaker first spoke to the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley in 2016 to tell the story of the Memory Project, a youth arts organization he founded in 2004. He spoke to us again in 2022 about his efforts to help resettle Afghan refugees. In this presentation, he will briefly recap the history of the Memory Project and update us on his efforts to support education for Afghan girls. He will then describe several challenges that the Memory Project (and the field of art education, in general) has faced during the past several years. Lastly, Ben will invite club members to help him brainstorm potential new pathways that the Memory Project could take in the future, with hopes of adapting and strengthening the organization in these changing times.Ben founded the Memory Project in 2004 after an experience volunteering at an orphanage in Guatemala. While there, he learned that the children had very few personal keepsakes to take with them after leaving the orphanage. As Ben had always enjoyed drawing portraits for others, he had the idea to organize high school art teachers and art students to create portraits as positive and tangible "memories" for the children to carry into their future.Since then, more than 300,000 young artists have participated in this effort to create portraits for children in 58 different countries. Running the Memory Project has been Ben's full time job ever since 2006, and his typical workday consists of answering emails alone on his couch. However, the days he loves far more are the ones spent delivering the portraits to children around the world.Please check out the Memory Project's website and see videos of our work at:https://memoryproject.orgTo learn more about Men for Equality, go to:https://menforequality.org/

2026 will see three major sporting events in Santa Clara County, the NFL Super Bowl, NCAA March Madness, and FIFA World Cup. There has been attention to the issue of human trafficking at sporting events, and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar brought the realities of labor exploitation to the international stage. Learn about what data tells us about sporting events, trafficking, and exploitation. Santa Clara County hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016 and a regional workgroup, No Traffick Ahead was created to provide a regional, comprehensive response to trafficking. There were accomplishments and lessons learned as it relates to messaging, law enforcement, outreach, and services. No Traffick Ahead is organizing once again, utilizing a social leverage model, to provide a comprehensive approach to human trafficking and human rights violations for the events. This includes making sure visitors to the Bay Area and community members can recognize trafficking and know how to get help or report harm.Our speaker, Sharan Dhanoa, is Director for the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking. She facilitates collaboration amongst over thirty-five member agencies. In May 2014, she began facilitating the largest multi-county workgroup in the Bay Area, No Traffick Ahead, which is unifying efforts in eight counties in order to effectuate collective impact across sectors. Prior to joining the Coalition, Sharan worked with women trafficked into sexual exploitation in Calcutta, India, by aiding their development through economic empowerment. She started her career in crime research, has worked in crime surveillance, and in an emergency psychiatric facility. Sharan holds a Master’s degree in Criminology from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law. Sharan was named 2015 Abolitionist of the Year for Advocacy by the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking, received the Unsung Hero Award by the County of Santa Clara Valley in 2015, and was awarded the South Asian Bar Association's Community Impact Award in 2016.To learn more, go to:https://www.southbayendtrafficking.org

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) works to ensure that every person with a bleeding disorder has access to safe, effective, and sustainable care, no matter where they live. Around the world, thousands of people with bleeding disorders still face life-long pain, disability, and even early death due to a lack of diagnosis and treatment. In this talk, WFH Medical and Humanitarian Aid Director, Dr. Assad Haffar, and WFH Head of Corporate & Community Partnerships and National Director of WFH USA, Marlene Spencer, will share how WFH is advancing global standards of care through humanitarian aid, training and education, and policy advocacy. They will also highlight opportunities for partnerships that align with Rotary’s values of service, global health, and community impact.Dr. Assad Haffar is the Medical and Humanitarian Aid Director at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) in Montreal, Canada. Since joining WFH in 2000, he has led the organization’s Humanitarian Aid Program, the largest global initiative delivering clotting factor concentrates to countries with limited access, while supporting the development of national care programs and treatment centers worldwide. Dr. Haffar holds an MD from the University of Damascus, as well as advanced degrees from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Environmental and Occupational Health in Japan. Marlene Spencer is Head of Corporate & Community Partnerships at the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and National Director of WFH USA, the organization’s U.S. affiliate connecting American supporters to WFH’s global mission. With more than 15 years at WFH, she leads fundraising strategies across corporate and community sectors, securing commitments and working to identify and diversify revenue streams to sustain WFH’s global programs.To learn more, read the WFH Impact and stories of 2024:https://wfh.org/https://wfh.org/about-wfh/#wfh-annual-report-2024/1/

Most job seekers don't know their resumes are screened by algorithms before humans ever see them. With 75% of employers using Applicant Tracking Systems, qualified candidates often get filtered out instantly while hiring managers can't find good talent.Soubhik Dawn, founder of AI career platform Upplai, will reveal how hiring really works today, and demonstrate how AI is now empowering candidates to optimize their applications effectively. You'll see live examples of resume transformation and learn why this shift is creating a more equitable job market for everyone involved.Soubhik Dawn is a Stanford and IIT Kharagpur alumnus with nearly two decades of product management and leadership experience spanning Silicon Valley startups to publicly traded companies. As both a hiring manager and product leader, he has built digital products used by millions while leading and hiring across diverse functions including engineering, UX design, product marketing, technical writing, customer support, customer success, solutions consulting, and sales.Having experienced the hiring process from both sides as someone who has hired dozens of professionals and as a job seeker navigating career transitions, Soubhik understands the frustrations of today's job market. This dual perspective inspired him to found Upplai, an AI-powered platform that is helping job seekers get more interviews and land their dream jobs faster.Through Upplai, Soubhik has helped thousands of job seekers, across multiple industries, job functions, and experience levels, present their best selves to employers, transforming how professionals approach job applications in an increasingly competitive and AI moderated market.To learn more, go to:1. The real reason you might not be getting any job interviews: https://youtu.be/8yA9DKxJfks 2. How a laid-off customer support professional went from 0 interviews to 10+ interviews a week using AI: https://youtu.be/3W5nhlGgBl8 3. How an algorithm scores and ranks your resume: https://youtu.be/3W5nhlGgBl8 4. Resume best practices to impress humans and machines: https://uppl.ai/resume-writing-guide 5. Why ChatGPT might be hurting your job search: https://uppl.ai/chat-gpt-resume-prompts/

Following visiting clubs all over our district, our district governor talks at both practical and philosophical levels about shifts happening (or should be happening) within Rotary.Herb Ritter has been a dedicated Rotarian for four decades. He is the 5170 District Governor in 2025-06, and has held a wide variety of leadership positions, including club president. Professionally, he enjoyed a successful 32-year career at Schneider Electric before venturing into entrepreneurship. Herb's commitment to community service extends beyond Rotary, evidenced by his involvement in various organizations. As a 3rd generation Eagle Scout, he has a strong connection to Scouting. With a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MBA, Herb embodies a blend of education, professional achievement, and service.To learn more about our district, visit:https://www.rotarydistrict5170.org/

The way we live, work, and learn is being transformed at an unprecedented pace. Families around the world are seeking more freedom, flexibility, and purpose - not just in their careers, but in the way they raise and educate their children. Elodie Ferchaud, co-founder of Boundless Life, shares how the future of work and learning is evolving and why so many families are reimagining what’s possible.Drawing from her own journey as a mother of four and global entrepreneur, Elodie explores how Boundless Life is pioneering a new way of living: one that blends place-based learning, meaningful community, and the freedom to work from anywhere. Discover how this movement is empowering families to design lives of growth, connection, and global citizenship.Elodie Ferchaud is an entrepreneur, global brand leader, and mother of four who has dedicated her career to building meaningful communities and businesses across the world. After 15 years in international marketing and sales with leading companies such as L’Oréal and Procter & Gamble, she co-founded Boundless Life, a pioneering organization helping families live abroad with forward-thinking education, housing, and community. Her work blends professional expertise with personal passion, inspiring families everywhere to embrace change, growth, and the adventure of global living.To learn more, go to:https://www.boundless.life/ https://www.instagram.com/boundlesslife/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/boundlesslife/

This week's speaker is someone many of us have followed for decades. Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva, host of the Remarkable People podcast, author of Wiser Guy, Think Remarkable, and sixteen other books, and adjunct professor at UC Santa Cruz. He was the chief evangelist of Apple, trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation, and brand ambassador of Mercedes-Benz. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.In this talk, Kawasaki takes aim at the so-called "rules" of business that sound wise but often mislead. From "fail fast" to "growth at all costs," he shows how these maxims can backfire when applied blindly.Instead of chasing clichés, Kawasaki urges leaders to think critically, weigh context, and focus on sustainable success. This talk reframes innovation and growth with nuance, clarity, and a dose of reality.To learn more about our speaker, go to:https://guykawasaki.com/https://guykawasaki.com/remarkable-people/

Our speaker, Robert Freeman, spent nineteen years in the computer industry, rising to Vice President at the seventh largest software company in the world. After that, he taught at Los Altos High School for 16 years. In 2011, he was named "Bay Area Teacher of the Year" by the San Francisco 49ers Organization.In 2007, Freeman founded The Global Uplift Project. TGUP offered high school students the chance to build classrooms in developing-world countries from donations of one dollar. In 2020, when COVID closed all the schools, TGUP opened to adults. The ethic remains the same: small donations, aggregated, to build educational projects in the poorest countries in the world. TGUP has completed 592 such projects in 26 countries.In 2022, he presented to our Rotary club about TGUP, and this week, he shares a bold initiative that his organization has launched.The project is to upgrade the scientific capacity of the entire nation of Uganda. Already underway, TGUP is doing this by installing TGUP's Science Lab in a Box™ (SLaB) at 50 of the top high schools in the country. Early results show 80+% improvement in nationally normed test scores within the first year of installation of SLaB.If this project improves Ugandan GDP by only 1/1000th of 1% in 10 years, it pays for itself 200 times over. TGUP has the support of the Rotary International infrastructure at the highest level of the country. The Ugandan District Governor, Christine Kawooya, has submitted a letter of support stating, "Please know that our entire Rotary team is fully committed to the success of this groundbreaking program."To learn more, go to:The Global Uplift Project: https://tgup.org/ TGUP's Science Lab in a Box™: https://tgup.org/slab Website for this project: https://tgup.org/SEUU The 573 projects TGUP has already completed: https://tgup.org/Project-Thumbnails

After finding success in scaling their trash barriers to intercept plastic waste before it enters the ocean, Sungai Watch launched the Cleanup Collective as the next step in expanding their impact. The program transforms financial contributions into direct, measurable waste removal, tackling plastic pollution not only in rivers but also in mangroves, rice fields, and coastal areas.North Bali provides a powerful example of why adaptability matters. The region is drier, with steeper landscapes and less flowing water, which makes barrier installation less effective and requires more intensive, human-powered cleanups. Through the Cleanup Collective, we’ve shown that scalable solutions must be flexible to local realities, proving that with the right model, communities can support waste removal at three times the rate of barriers and help build a path toward a cleaner and healthier planet.Our speaker, Dika, is the Partnerships Manager of Sungai Watch, an NGO focused on river conservation and community-based environmental efforts. Since 2020, Sungai Watch has collected more than 3.6 million kilograms of non-organic waste in Indonesia's rivers and beyond, installed 380+ trash barriers across 37 subdistricts, engaged over 19,000 community members, and built a team of 160+ River Warriors who are fully local, fully insured, and employed full-time under fair and secure working conditions. Sungai Watch is a 501(c)3-certified entity in the US with offices based in Indonesia."To learn more, go to:https://sungai.watchhttps://sungaidesign.com/To see the slides from this presentation, go to:https://tinyurl.com/bdcnd6jb

Teens Who Invest is a team of students helping students to build a strong foundation in personal finance and entrepreneurship—essential life skills for real-world success.These are teenagers who want students globally to have the opportunity to learn something not typically taught in schools. The team's presentations are a mix of lectures and activities starting with the fundamentals of personal finance, identifying needs and wants, building a budget, saving and investing, along with some advanced topics like saving for college and building a small business.Our presenters, Ria and Mica, are California high school students who have started small businesses of their own, and like many their age also spend time on music and sports.To learn more, go to:https://www.teenswhoinvest.com

" A majority of Americans will at some point in their lives experience poverty."There are many myths and stereotypes surrounding the issue of poverty in the United States. One of the more widespread myths is that poverty strikes other people but not myself -- that poverty is an issue of "them" not "us." In contrast to this belief, our speaker will introduce research that indicates a majority of Americans will at some point in their lives experience poverty.As part of this talk, we will see Confronting Poverty, the poverty website and risk calculator that Dr Rank developed. Dr Rank will demonstrate how the poverty risk calculator works, and will also highlight other components of the website that can help inform users about poverty and inequality.Our speaker, Mark R. Rank, is the Herbert S. Hadley Professor of Social Welfare at Washington University in St. Louis. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in the field of sociology, and is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts in the country on issues of poverty, inequality, and social justice. To date he has written ten books on a range of subjects, including an exploration of the American Dream, a new understanding of poverty and inequality, and the role of luck and chance in shaping the course of our lives.Dr Rank has received numerous awards over the years for his scholarship and books, and his research has been widely reported throughout the national and international news media. His work has been cited across major newspapers in the country, including frequent mentions in The New York Times and The Washington Post. He has also been featured in other media outlets including programs on National Public Radio, NBC, CBS, CNN, PBS, and many others. In addition, he has provided his research expertise to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the White House, and many national organizations involved in issues of economic and social justice.To learn more, go to: https://confrontingpoverty.org

We Share Solar's mission is to equip teachers to inspire the next generation of Solar Solutionaries™. Building on the successes of the original Solar Suitcase, We Share Solar (WSS) is proud to announce a new program model and improved hands-on experience for youth. The Solar Suitcase Learning Kit is a stand-alone solar system that has been designed specifically for teaching and learning.When students in the US participate in a We Share Solar program at their school they will also be connected to an international deployment of a Solar Suitcase to a community in an energy scarce region of the world such as rural areas of Kenya or Uganda. Included with the curriculum materials will be information about the linked deployment including photos of installation and use of the Solar Suitcase.Our speaker, Anna Gomberg, is a passionate Oakland (California) Unified School District veteran Environmental Science teacher, and has played a key role in both the creation of We Share Solar's classroom curriculum and professional development workshop content. She has worked with researchers at the Lawrence Hall of Science to develop curriculum and teach for the National Science Foundation-funded EPICC and YESS programs which both aimed to investigate ways of promoting STEM career opportunities and interest for low income youth of color using the Solar Suitcase as a key component. As Senior Program Manager for Solar Education at We Share Solar she is keen to expand access to the inspiring hands-on; climate justice and globally minded opportunities the curriculum provides. Anna grew up in the UK where she studied Materials Science at Oxford University as an undergraduate and remained to complete a Masters in Engineering (MEng); she then went on to train as a teacher at the University of London Institute of Education where she received a second Masters in Teaching (MTeach).To learn more, go to the We Share Solar website:https://www.wesharesolar.org

In December 2019, Elton had a stroke. This is the story of how his daughter rushed him to the Stanford ER, his treatment, his recovery, his subsequent quest to identify the cause of his stroke, and how to prevent another one. For more info on Elton's stroke check out this podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7dkQIUUccg9pK5yb0JZ1EHSometimes an event, a moment in time, changes your world, and you become an expert in something that you had never paid much attention to. This stroke was one such moment in time. Hopefully, what he learned subsequently can help others and their loved ones. Our speaker, Elton Sherwin, is the author of two books: "The Silicon Valley Way," originally titled, "The 45-Second Business Plan," and""Addicted to Energy, A Venture Capitalist's Perspective on How to Save Our Economy and Our Climate."Prior to working as a venture capitalist Elton worked for Motorola and IBM. Elton is an alumnus of the University of California at Berkeley. He has been a Rotarian since 1999 and joined the eClub of Silicon Valley in 2023. He currently serves as the club’s podcast producer.To learn more:Links to books and organizations mentioned in the presentation:"How Not to Die," by Dr. Michael Greger: https://a.co/d/bLAZx7z "Undo It!: How Simple Lifestyle Changes Can Reverse Most Chronic Diseases" by Dr. Dean Ornish: https://a.co/d/bQ2kzEx "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" by Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn Jr.: https://a.co/d/16pLj0eCleveland Clinic’s Heart Disease Reversal Program: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/wellness/integrative/esselstyn-program Dr. Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease: https://ornish.com/ Betr Health: https://betrhealth.com Dr. Michael Greger’s Green light, yellow light, red light food list: https://nutritionfacts.org/video/dining-by-traffic-light-green-is-for-go-red-is-for-stop DailyDozen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tOdfgO31RA&vl=en Jill Bolte Taylor's TED Talk, "My Stroke of Insight" https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_my_stroke_of_insight

Dino Sakkas is a retired aerospace engineer and an active member of the Rotary Club of Cupertino, where he channels his energy into advancing environmental sustainability. An advocate of Rotary’s Environmental Area of Service, he leads projects such as installing solar panels on charitable nonprofit residences (a project we've highlighted in one of our club's programs before), supporting the adoption of heat pump water heaters, and helping organizations maximize the benefits of clean energy.The project in South Africa Dino will describe is designed to eliminate illegal traps threatening wildlife and ecosystems, equip the community with skills to sustain conservation efforts long-term, and protect the environment, along with the tourism-based livelihoods that depend on it.Beyond Rotary, Dino is deeply committed to local environmental stewardship. He volunteers with the Bluebird Nest Box program, monitoring bird populations and maintaining nesting habitats, and he is a beekeeper and Project Leader for the 4-H Beekeeping program, where he mentors youth on the importance of honey bees and sustainable beekeeping practices.To learn more about this beautiful reserve, go to:https://magaliesbergbiosphere.org.za/ For more info on Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) go to: https://www.wessa.org.za/

Connie Cheren, is a nurse and a social worker with over forty years of experience in healthcare and eighteen years of experience working in East Africa. She is the founder and president of Partners for Care, a non-profit organization that employs staff in Kenya to address public health concerns. PFC upholds the principles of local solutions and sustainability in its approach. Their working tenets emphasize empowering individuals to take responsibility for their own well-being rather than relying solely on external assistance. In our actions when serving others, we must critically evaluate whether our intentions are benevolent or detrimental. It is crucial to identify the unforeseen consequences of our interventions and strive to provide assistance without inadvertently causing harm to those we seek to help. While our intentions may not be malicious, it is essential to acknowledge that our actions can sometimes have unintended negative effects. The speaker will delve into the conventional mission approach and share firsthand experiences of the harm that can and does occur when we fail to consider the potential consequences of our actions. To learn more, go to:https://www.partnersforcare.org

Virtual reality (VR) has been the 'next big thing' for decades, but only in the past few years has the hardware and software come together to make this a reality. REM5 STUDIOS is a leader in creating and executing 'VR' experiences at scale that deliver results and lasting impact. For the past 24 months, REM5 has been embedded with the Gates Foundation and GPEI partners to produce two award-winning experiences, 'Polio's Last Mile' and 'Apporter La Vie,' that take stakeholders to the front lines of the fight against polio. These experiences have been shown to tens of thousands around the globe, including the past two Rotary International annual conventions. Today, we'll discuss the impact immersive experiences can have on changing hearts and minds and connecting more than ever to the mission.Our speaker, Brian Skalak, has been with REM5 STUDIOS for the past six years. He has been instrumental in filming and producing the VR documentaries 'Polio's Last Mile' and 'Apporter La Vie - Delivering Life' and has shown them at the past two Rotary International Conventions and events around the world.To learn more, go to:https://seefeelchange.com

Every day, more than 500 million women and girls live without access to menstrual supplies. This often forces them to use unsafe materials that put their health at risk and cause them to miss school or work. With menstruation lasting about 3,000 days over a lifetime (more than 8 years), this challenge is not only a matter of health but also one of equity, dignity, and opportunity.Days for Girls (DfG) wants to change that. Since 2008, DfG has reached 3.5 million people in 145 countries with sustainable menstrual health solutions and education. Through holistic approaches such as their Period Positive Schools and Workplaces initiatives and women-led social enterprises, DfG is building scalable impact that transforms lives and strengthens communities. In this presentation, Days for Girls CEO Tiffany Larson will share powerful stories of change, highlight the connection between menstrual health and gender equality, and share how we can all work towards a world where periods are never a problem.Our speaker, Tiffany Larson, leads Days for Girls International as CEO focusing on dignity, equity, and opportunity for all. A passionate advocate for menstrual health and sustainable development, she has over two decades of experience blending business acumen with a heart for global impact. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that access to health and education is a human right, and that lasting change starts at the community level.Before becoming CEO, Tiffany held several executive roles at Days for Girls, including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Program Officer, each shaping her holistic and inclusive approach to global leadership.To learn more, go to:https://www.daysforgirls.org/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qe5eEoSiW-M

How does Zack Curran, our speaker, describe his work with the San Jose Barracuda?"As a proud member of the American Hockey League, our mission is to cultivate a welcoming, family-friendly environment where every fan feels at home. We are committed to offering an affordable, intimate, and uniquely engaging game-day experience. Through meaningful connections with communities across the South Bay, we strive to make every visit to The Reef feel inclusive, memorable, and deeply rooted in a sense of belonging. "Our goal is to build a community that feels like family—one that inspires fans to return game after game, season after season, to their home away from home. "The vision of the San Jose Barracuda is to make a lasting, positive impact within the dynamic and ever-evolving world of hockey. By embracing emerging trends, expanding group experiences, and setting ambitious goals for the future, we aim to elevate every aspect of who we are—as a team, a fan base, and an organization. At the heart of this vision is our celebration of the game of hockey and our unwavering belief that hockey is for everyone."Our speaker, Zack Curran, is coming into his third season with the Barracuda, working closely with local community groups, schools, and season ticket holders on events and special games. We'll learn how those connections make the games more exciting and simultaneously make the larger community a stronger one.To learn more, go to:https://sjbarracuda.com/ https://www.instagram.com/sjbarracuda https://x.com/sjbarracuda https://www.facebook.com/sjbarracuda https://www.youtube.com/@SanJoseBarracuda1 https://www.tiktok.com/@sanjosebarracuda To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:https://rotary.cool

How can advanced medical technologies - once reserved for elite hospitals - now be made accessible to everyday communities? Our speaker will introduce a procedure called endoscopic ultrasound, or EUS, which allows doctors to see deep inside the body to diagnose conditions like pancreatic cancer and liver disease. Traditionally, this equipment is too expensive for most hospitals and outpatient centers, even in the United States. Here, we'll learn about a breakthrough that dramatically lowers the cost, without sacrificing quality. This innovation is helping to level the playing field in healthcare - making life-saving diagnostics available in rural hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and even in developing countries. Our speaker, Dr Stephen Steinberg, is a physician-inventor working to close the gap in access to advanced medical care, both in the U.S. and around the world. A graduate of Cornell and Johns Hopkins, Dr. Steinberg has spent over 40 years advancing the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy. Dr Stephen Steinberg's work centers on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) - a powerful but traditionally expensive imaging technology. As co-inventor of a breakthrough device that dramatically reduces the cost of EUS, he is helping bring this life-saving procedure to hospitals, outpatient centers, and underserved regions that have long gone without.Dr Steinberg will also share stories from the frontlines of medicine, his journey as a physician-inventor, and why he believes technology must serve people - not the other way around. This talk is designed to inform, inspire, and highlight how local communities can benefit from global innovation.Now based in South Florida as Director the Center for Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy, Dr Steinberg continues to blend hands-on patient care with innovation and mentorship. His goal is simple and urgent: to ensure that cutting-edge tools are not limited by geography or income, but made available to every community that needs them.To learn more, go to:Endoscopic Ultrasound: Benefits & What to Expect (patient oriented) Johns Hopkins: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/endoscopic-ultrasound EndoSound's website, describing our efforts: https://www.endosound.com/

Approximately two billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, negatively impacting national security, hygiene, and agriculture. Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is the conversion of ambient humidity into clean water; however, conventional dehumidification is energy-intensive. Improvement in AWH may be achieved with elastocaloric cooling, using temperature-sensitive materials in active thermoregulation. Potential benefits, compared to conventional desiccant wheel designs, include substantial reductions in energy use, size, and complexity. Elastocaloric cooling is a promising advancement in dehumidification, making AWH more economical and feasible.John LaRocco is part of the Les Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, and is an accomplished neural engineer, artificial intelligence specialist, and independent researcher with a diverse international background. He has worked on projects spanning automation, AI, medical technology, forensics, archeology, and magazine publishing. He worked with Prof. Qudsia Tahmina and John Simonis to develop a range of prototypes, including an elastocaloric water harvester.Qudsia Tahmina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at The Ohio State University at Marion. She earned her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016. Dr Tahmina’s research spans digital signal processing techniques to improve speech intelligibility and auditory prosthetics such as cochlear implants, secure embedded systems and brain-computer interfaces using EEG for non-verbal communication. She also investigates machine toolchain algorithms, speech synthesis, and collaborates with medical schools on behavioral clinical trials and biomedical research. Committed to educational excellence, she has expertise in outcomes assessment and ABET accreditation processes and was honored with a teaching award in 2024 for her dedication to student success.To read their peer-reviewed paper on this topic, go to:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7080/12/10/178"Crazy" cool projects:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2116-5720

Project Tumaini (Project Hope) is a long-term effort by the Outreach Program to install water purification systems into Primary Schools in rural Tanzania. The project provides safe water to a student for a full year for just $2. Over the last three years, the team has installed systems into 31 schools, supplying 24,000 students with safe water. Their current goal is to install systems into 96 primary schools in the Mkalama district to provide another 64,000 students with safe water.Our speaker, Isaac McNary, is Vice President of International Development for The Outreach Program, a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide safe water, food, medical care, and education to children and those in need at home and abroad. He has been fighting hunger since 2009, when he volunteered for his first packaging event. In that time he has facilitated the packaging of 60 million meals with the help of 150,000 volunteers from across the US. In 2019, Isaac expanded his focus to international safe water issues and has provided access to safe water to over 40,000 people in Africa. Isaac is also a dedicated Rotarian. He has served as President of his club, Assistant Governor, District PolioPlus Chair, and is currently the District Governor Elect for District 5680 in Kansas and holds the distinction of being the youngest DG in the district's history and the shortest time from joining Rotary to becoming a DG, 7 years and 7 days. He is a member of the Paul Harris Society, PHF +5, and had the honor of having one of his projects featured in the End Polio Now booth at the Rotary International Convention in Houston in 2023. To learn more, go to:https://outreachprogram.org/clean-water/ To donate to the project, visit: https://outreachprogram.org/2-heart-club/

SLICE 325 is a nonprofit using immersive education, food literacy, and sustainability to empower all communities with a focus on those historically underserved. Led by SLICE 325's founder Shemecka McNeil, you'll learn how SLICE 325 combines hands-on cooking, virtual reality, and environmental education to address chronic disease, food insecurity, and digital inequity. Their approach uses scalable, evidence-based strategies that merge cultural knowledge with health outcomes and climate resilience.We'll explore how SLICE 325's initiatives like VR classrooms for older adults, culturally inclusive cookbooks for managing diabetes and hypertension, and no-power-needed storm survival guides are educational, transformative, and accessible. With a proven track record of community-driven impact, SLICE 325 offers a replicable model for anyone seeking to invest in innovative, culturally grounded, and inclusive approaches to learning, wellness, and sustainability across all communities.Shemecka McNeil has a deep understanding of the relationship between food and health. Growing up in a family with a long history of preventable health conditions, she developed a passion for promoting good health through a nutritious diet. With over a decade of experience in the health sector, Shemecka speaks about the importance of healthy eating for overall well-being. She founded SLICE 325, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating low-income individuals and families on how to create healthy meals using affordable ingredients.Shemecka's expertise extends beyond health education; she is also a trained chef, healthcare professional, farmer, subject matter expert, immersive learning educator, and author. Her varied skill set allows her to approach health and nutrition from a variety of angles, making her a resource for anyone seeking to improve their eating habits and overall health.As the Executive Director of SLICE 325, Shemecka is committed to making a difference in the lives of others, one meal at a time. She believes that every family is unique and that there are countless creative ways to prepare healthy meals that are both delicious and affordable.Shemecka's dedication to promoting health and wellness has earned her recognition as a PSA Grower and a Paul Harris Award from Rotarians. She is an inspiration to those around her and a true advocate for healthy living.To learn more, go to:https://slice325.org/https://www.youtube.com/@SLICE325/videoshttps://www.spatial.io/s/SLICE-325-2025-6838356d7096556e2726a879 https://www.linkedin.com/in/shemecka-mcneil-els-sme-gap-a83941198/https://www.instagram.com/slice325/

Sport in Mind describes itself as "the leading mental health sports charity in England and Wales." Its mission is to transform people's mental health through sport and physical activity, working in partnership with the National Health Service and sports governing bodies, and harnessing the power of sport to inspire, educate, and promote good mental health.Our speaker, Craig Adams, is Sport in Mind's head of partnerships. After spending eighteen years working in big tech in both the US and Asia, Craig was introduced to Sport in Mind's founders via a common friend. Being a huge sports fan, and participating in a number of sports, whilst also having his own mental health story, the opportunity to marry up passions with helping others was for him the perfect fit.Outside of work Craig enjoys exploring new countries and cultures, is obsessed with golf and the Liverpool football club, and enjoys experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.To learn more, go to:https://www.sportinmind.org/ https://www.sportinmind.org/strategy-and-impact

What makes for a good life? Is it the simple, predictable pleasures we call happiness? Or can happiness lead to complacency and regret? Is the answer a deep sense of meaning and purpose? Or can a life of purpose invite narrow or misplaced loyalties?Shige Oishi is the Marshall Field IV Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago. He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2021, he also received the Outstanding Achievement Award for Advancing Cultural Psychology from Society for Personality and Social Psychology. The Psychological Review paper on a psychologically rich life he co-authored with Erin Westgate received the 2022 Wegner Theoretical Innovation Prize. His research has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The Financial Times.To learn more, go to:https://psychology.uchicago.edu/directory/Shigehiro-Oishi

CARS works with over 10,000 nonprofits and raises over $60 million a year in fundraising through turn-key vehicle and real estate donation programs.Our speaker is Howard Pearl, the Chief Executive Officer of Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS), a national leader in vehicle donation programs for nonprofits. Howard Pearl has over three decades of executive experience and a Harvard Business School education, and has worked with organizations like Johnson & Johnson, Ford Motor Company, and Revlon to implement transformative strategies.To learn more, go to: https://careasy.org/home

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of the most pressing threats to our oceans, devastating marine ecosystems and wildlife while undermining the livelihoods of sustainable fishers. For over two decades, WildAid has partnered with local leaders worldwide to improve marine protection and enforcement. WildAid CEO Meaghan Brosnan and Skylight Head Namrata Kolla explore how cutting-edge AI technology is transforming the fight against IUU fishing. Learn how Skylight’s AI-powered vessel detection platform is helping governments take decisive action—like the recent seizure of six illegal longliners in Panama—and discover what’s next for the future of ocean protection.Meaghan Brosnan is a global expert in marine enforcement with more than two decades of experience combating illegal fishing and supporting communities in sustainably managing marine protected areas. A retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander, she spent two decades in service, including four years at sea enforcing fisheries law. Meaghan joined WildAid in 2017 as Marine Program Director and became CEO in 2024, following the organization's receipt of Prince William's Earthshot Prize in the ""Revive Our Oceans"" category. Namrata Kolla (Nam) leads the Skylight program at Ai2 (Allen Institute for AI). She has held various positions in the conservation space for over ten years, including as Data Scientist for the Mayor of Seattle, as Research Consultant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and in various roles at The Nature Conservancy. She has a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington, with a focus on the application of data science to improve public service.Learn about WildAid's marine program: https://marine.wildaid.org/ More about Skylight's technology: https://allenai.org/skylightMongabay's coverage of Panama's momentous seizure: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/03/panama-conducts-large-illegal-fishing-bust-in-protected-pacific-waters/

Our foster care system is in need of complete reform in order for children in care to have a more humane experience.Rob Scheer knows that the first step is for our community to realize there is a problem. There are far too many people who have little to no knowledge of the struggles children in foster care face. These children are truly invisible in our society. Not only must we raise awareness of their plight, but we must come together to alleviate their suffering. We must ensure that the basic needs of children are being met as they enter into care. Despite the frightening and chaotic transition they are experiencing, these children deserve to have a sense of dignity as they are moved to another home.We must also realize that we are simply graduating foster children from the foster system to the prison system. We are not providing these children with the educational and life skills required to launch a successful future. If this is correct, we must realize the responsibility that each and every one of us holds to take care of these children and ensure that they have an equal opportunity for success in adulthood.Rob Scheer, is the founder and CEO of Comfort Cases, an international nonprofit dedicated to bringing dignity and hope to youth in foster care. His and the organization's mission is clear: to eliminate the heartbreaking and dehumanizing practice of children being handed a trash bag to carry their belongings when entering the foster care system.Since founding Comfort Cases in 2013, Rob and his team have distributed over 260,000 backpacks and duffle bags filled with essential and comforting items to youth in every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and The Bahamas.Rob's passion for this mission is deeply personal. He was once one of those children—a youth in foster care who was given a trash bag. His personal journey runs from experiencing foster care to homelessness to becoming a successful businessman, advocate, and father of five children, all of whom came from that same system."To learn more, about Comfort Cases or make a donation, go to:https://comfortcases.org/ You can also visit their social media pages:Instagram: @comfortcases @Rob_scheerFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/comfortcases TikTok: @comfort_cases @robscheer.comfortcasesX / Twitter: @comfortcases @RobScheer6To listen to the podcast, "Fostering Change," please visit YouTube or any of your favorite podcast channels, or on their website: https://comfortcases.org/podcasts/

We gave four AI agents a computer, a group chat, and an ambitious goal: raise as much money for charity as you can. Since then we have learned a lot about how AI agents cooperate with each other and the humans around them. Join us to learn more about where they succeeded and where they floundered, and what this might mean for the surprisingly near-term future of human-AI society.Agent Village: How AI Can Do Good and How It Can Do BetterOur speaker, Shoshannah Tekofsky, has a BSc in Cognitive Science, an MSc in Computer Science, and a PhD in Player Modeling in Video Games. Her past research was at the MIT Media Lab and the European Space Agency. She is an experienced data scientist and manager in large corporate and small startup contexts, with expertise in Video Games, Education, Analytics, and AI. Ms Tekofsky is currently a member of the technical staff at AI Digest.AI Digest creates demos and explainers of the most important trends in AI, presented visually, and grounded in concrete examples of what AI models can do right now — to help you plan for what’s coming next: https://theaidigest.org/https://theaidigest.org/village

This episode has a number of visuals that are in the video version which can be seen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fbnO3K6fxKt9pfaTp8mYn or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/W-gSoOwsBOYWe believe the message is an important one, even if you do not watch the video, and hope that you will enjoy this and every episode of our series.Public libraries are an essential institution in the educational, cultural and literary life of its people. By definition, public libraries democratize knowledge and learning by welcoming all, without prejudice. However in India, caste, class and gender are powerful barriers that have kept a majority of the people outside the doors of the library. The public library system, which should have democratized knowledge, has become a means by which it is gatekept. Now, across India, a group of grassroots individuals are working against tremendous odds to create libraries for the people which are free, anti-caste, and inclusive of all. This collective is proving that reading is not dead, physical books and reading spaces are urgently needed, and that if there is a threat to reading, it is lack of libraries, not interest in the community. Today's presentation will tell the story of this grassroots library movement, its history, and the exciting way ahead.Purnima Rao is a library activist from India and the first director of Free Libraries Network. After spending 15 years making documentary films, in 2015, she became involved with a group of educator activists that built free public libraries for marginalized and historically excluded communities in India. This was a radical grassroots initiative in a country where caste, class, and gender prevent millions of Indians from accessing books, reading programs, and finding opportunities for lifelong learning. In 2020, the pandemic brought much of the country's education system to its knees, and nowhere was this more apparent than in India's poorest and most disenfranchised communities. Purnima was then tasked by a group of librarians to develop and drive a pan-India collective that would shed light on the vital role that informal, grassroots, community-led libraries play across the country.Shivam Singh, aka Kranti Ke, has been a member of the community library project since 2014 and has handled various roles along his journey. Shivam is also a rapper and a part of a duo rap band called 10TAKK, which means ""knock."" He has written songs for the community, and loves the chance to serve in this way. Shivam is a BTech student and likes working on cool projects with the help of AI.To learn more, go to:Official Website: https://www.fln.org.inYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@freelibrariesnetworkfln3274 Press: https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/no-sharp-shushes-or-finger-on-the-lips-community-libraries-reimagine-reading-spaces/2476372 OpEd by Purnima Rao: https://idronline.org/article/advocacy-government/can-free-public-libraries-catalyse-communities/

"Rural is Resilient: Rebuilding the Appalachian Economy from the Ground Up" is a presentation by Coalfield Development that explores how community-driven innovation, workforce development, and social enterprise are transforming central Appalachia. Once a region known for powering the nation through coal and industry (yet often left behind in terms of reinvestment and opportunity), Appalachia now faces deep economic, environmental, and health disparities. Coalfield Development reverse-engineers solutions to these challenges by empowering people who have been cast aside, revitalizing places that have been left behind, and building long-term prosperity.This presentation outlines Coalfield’s workforce development model, which integrates on-the-job training, personal development, and business incubation. Through training and employment initiatives like PATH and WRAPS, social enterprise development, and partnerships with organizations replicating their approach across the region, Coalfield has created over 1,000 jobs, supported 91 new businesses, and attracted more than $178 million in new investment. By turning abandoned mine lands and buildings once considered liabilities into assets to serve their communities, and equipping individuals with the tools to secure gainful, stable employment in a variety of industries, Coalfield is proving that rural communities can, and are, rebuilding the Appalachian economy from the ground up.Our speaker, Jacob Israel Hannah, began work as Coalfield Development’s new CEO in January of 2024. Previously, Jacob held the role of Chief Conservation Officer at Coalfield Development with over five years in the organization. With three generations of coal mining in his family, and as a 5th generation West Virginian, Jacob integrates an empathetic and grounded approach to the strategy of triple-bottom line sustainability; balancing People, Planet, and Prosperity in harmony with each other with a lens towards a fair and just transition. Jacob’s work intersects the through line of environmental considerations with social wellbeing and economic development. This primarily revolves around bringing renewable energy to underserved and coal-impacted communities, reclaiming abandoned mine lands, supporting a regional network of upcycling and reuse, and remediating brownfields and protecting water systems, all while centering this work around the people of Appalachia.To learn more, go to: https://coalfield-development.org/

What do you know about stuttering? If you aren't someone who stutters, do you know the things you should do when you meet a person who does? Today you'll hear from someone who can explain from his own experiences what stuttering is, the characteristics of one who stutters, and common myths about stuttering. Our speaker, Jeff Olevson, is the current president of the Sunnyvale Rotary Club and has been a Rotarian for almost twelve years. Outside of Rotary, Jeff has been involved with the National Stuttering Association (NSA) for over twenty-four years. The NSA is the largest self-help group in the country for people who stutter. Locally, Jeff is the co-leader of the San Jose Chapter of the NSA (a monthly support group for people who stutter) and is also the Regional Chapter Coordinator (RCC) of the Southwest. Members of the chapter share experiences about their stuttering journeys and seek support to guide them along the way. Jeff has a passion for sharing the NSA and helping others better understand stuttering.To learn more, go to:https://www.westutter.org/

Desalination is a critical tool for addressing water scarcity, yet conventional renewable-powered desalination systems rely heavily on energy storage, increasing cost and complexity. In this talk, our speakers will present a novel control strategy—flow-commanded current control—for enabling direct-drive photovoltaic electrodialysis (PV-ED) with little to no energy storage. Their approach maximizes real-time energy utilization, achieving high water production efficiency while reducing and eliminating the need for energy storage. Findings from a six-month field deployment of a fully autonomous, community-scale PV-ED system in New Mexico demonstrated 94% energy utilization while reducing energy storage requirements by over 99% compared to typical PV desalination systems. These results highlight the potential of PV-ED to provide cost-effective, decentralized water treatment for resource-constrained communities and its broader implications for sustainable desalination at scale.Jon Bessette is a PhD candidate within the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center at MIT. His research is focused on the development of desalination and water treatment systems for resource-constrained environments: from off-grid communities in India to agriculture in the Middle East. Bessette earned a BS from the SUNY University at Buffalo (2020) in mechanical engineering with a minor in studio art, and an MS (2022) from MIT in mechanical engineering. Bessette is a former Fulbright scholar (2017), Critical Language Scholar (2019), Marshall Scholar finalist (2020), and NSF GRFP recipient (2020). He received the International Desalination Association Innovation Award (2023) for his work in batteryless photovoltaic desalination, is a part of the inaugural Morningside Academy for Design at MIT (2022), and is a J-WAFS Rasikbhai L. Meswani Fellow for Water Solutions (2024). To learn more:Organizationshttps://gear.mit.edu - The Global Engineering & Research Centerhttps://kira.eco - A company spinout commercializing this workhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-024-00314-6 - The associated journal articlePresshttps://news.mit.edu/2024/solar-powered-desalination-system-requires-no-extra-batteries-1008 - MIT News Articlehttps://arstechnica.com/science/2024/10/desalination-system-adjusts-itself-to-work-with-renewable-power/ - arstechnica articlePeoplehttps://meche.mit.edu/people/faculty/[email protected] - Amos Winter faculty profilehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanbessette/ - connect with Jon here!https://mit-mad-ii-8mhpe.ondigitalocean.app/community/people/jonathan-bessette - Morningside Academy for Design profile for Jonhttps://jwafs.mit.edu/people/jonathan-bessette - J-WAFS profile for Jon

This talk will describe how the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center at MIT is creating technologies that are global by design. This entails spotting and quantifying meritorious problems, leveraging engineering science to create high-performance, low-cost solutions, and engaging a wide network of stakeholders that are positioned to catalyze adoption and dissemination.The following research projects will be highlighted: 1) Time-variant photovoltaic-powered electrodialysis (PV-ED) desalination systems that continually vary pumping and salt extraction power to match available solar power. Compared to industry standard grid-powered reverse osmosis, GEAR Center’s PV-ED systems are at price parity and reduce water wastage by 75%. 2) Ultra-low pressure, low-cost drip irrigation emitters that were realized by characterizing fluid-structure parametric design relationships. GEAR Center’s emitters cut pumping power by up to 69%, reduce the cost of solar-powered irrigation by up to 40%, and require 58% less plastic than current products. 3) High-performance, low-cost plastic prosthetic feet created by predictively and quantitatively connecting their mechanical design to biomechanical performance. GEAR Center’s feet facilitate near-able-bodied biomechanics and perform as well or better than industry-standard carbon fiber feet that cost up to 100X as much.Amos Winter is the Germeshausen Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Director of the K. Lisa Yang Global Engineering and Research (GEAR) Center at MIT. His research focuses on machine and product design for developing and emerging markets. Prof. Winter earned a BS from Tufts University (2003) and an MS (2005) and PhD (2011) from MIT, all in mechanical engineering. He received the 2010 Tufts University Young Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award, the 2012 ASME/Pi Tau Sigma Gold Medal, was named one of the MIT Technology Review’s 35 Innovators Under 35 (TR35) for 2013, and received the MIT Edgerton Faculty Achievement Award and an NSF CAREER award in 2017. Prof. Winter is the principal inventor of the Leveraged Freedom Chair (LFC) developing-world wheelchair, which was a winner of a 2010 R&D 100 award, was named one of the Wall Street Journal’s top innovations in 2011, received a Patents for Humanity award from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 2015, and was the subject of “Engineering Reverse Innovations”, winner of the 2015 McKinsey Award for the best article of the year in Harvard Business Review. To learn more, go to:GEAR Center's website: https://www.gear.mit.edu/ GEAR Center's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitgearlab/?hl=en

This week is the first week of the Rotary year, and we'll hear from Rushton Hurley, the incoming president for '25-'26 and also the charter president from '15-'16.The program is about a third the length of our typical offerings, but Hurley hopes that the focus on what you experience in Rotary that is meaningful to you - your Rotary story - is one that makes you happier personally and more effective professionally. He also hopes you will share your story in the coming months with others wanting and/or needing opportunities to serve others.For the last two decades and change, Hurley has run Next Vista for Learning, a company focused on fostering and highlighting creative approaches to teaching and learning. He is also the Director of Innovation for Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo - both jobs he loves, and that he does better because of his experiences with Rotary.To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:https://rotary.cool

Sparked by an idea of a club member last year after a storm that knocked down a tree on almost every street, the Rotary Club of Natomas decided to assemble personal hygiene and outdoor survival items to be given to people in our neighborhood who were experiencing homelessness and living outdoors. Because of weather conditions, we wanted to put the items (52 total) into something that could withstand water and was versatile. We decided to use a bucket..and the Bucket of Hope was born! Our speaker, Pam Hunter, is the broker/owner of Adult Insurance Solutions, LLC, a boutique health insurance consulting agency specializing in Medicare-eligible individuals. The agency is now serving clients in thirteen states and is entering its 18th year. Pam’s only Rotarian regret is that she only joined in 2021 and not sooner. She currently serves as her club's president.To learn more, go to the Facebook page for the Rotary Club of Natomas: https://www.facebook.com/NatomasRotary/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/UZ7TZcjLhUk

Today, 343 million people are facing acute hunger—more than double the number from just a few years ago. This dramatic rise is driven by a combination of conflict, increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, and a global cost-of-living crisis. In the face of these growing humanitarian challenges, the World Food Program is turning to innovation to maximize its impact and reach those most in need.Through the WFP Innovation Accelerator, WFP identifies, supports, and scales high-impact solutions that have the potential to disrupt hunger and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. In this talk, Bernhard Kowatsch will explore how innovation can play a transformative role in tackling global hunger and building a more food-secure future.Bernhard Kowatsch, is the Head of the United Nations (UN) World Food Program (WFP) Innovation Accelerator, which he created in 2015. The Accelerator sources, nurtures, and scales start-ups and nonprofits working to achieve Zero Hunger, and has run 22 accelerator programmes for external partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Humanitarian Grand Challenge, Adaptation Fund and other UN Agencies, with more planned.Prior to starting the Accelerator, Bernhard co-founded the award-winning ShareTheMeal app that crowdsources funding for WFP and has delivered over 264 million meals for hungry children worldwide. His previous experience includes creating WFP’s Business Innovation Unit and working as a Project Leader at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).To learn more, go to: https://innovation.wfp.org/

UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) has translated the science of a meaningful life to audiences around the world for over two decades, reaching a million people a month through its articles, podcast, and online tools. Today, GGSC is bringing that science directly to the workplace to address the challenges of the multitudes of people who suffer unnecessarily at work. You'll hear about why kind workplaces are more successful, how gratitude can be a game-changer at work, and how you can engage with GGSC to improve your own workplace.Our speaker, Kia Afcari, is the director of Greater Good Workplaces at GGSC. He has over twenty years of experience helping leaders, teams, and organizations with collaborative change and has served as a consultant to a wide variety of organizations, including tech, biotech, and fintech companies, health care organizations, universities, NGOs, UN agencies, and nonprofits. Kia grounds his work in the science of well-being, prosociality, and contemplative practices and uses creative methods like "instant dance parties" and Boal-informed theater techniques to achieve results. He is a certified executive coach, an Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator, Zenger Folkman 360 Extraordinary Leader Facilitator, and Core Strengths Facilitator.Kia's TEDx talk on How We Can Reshape Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Together has over 77,000 views, and for his work supporting major culture change efforts at scale, Kia was awarded Chief Learning Officer Magazine's Silver Award for Innovation for his accomplishments in helping shift the organizational culture of UC Berkeley's 8,000 staff.To learn more:Why Kind Workplaces Are More Successful free webinar: https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/event/why_kind_workplaces_are_more_successful Bring a Greater Good speaker or workshop to your organization: https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/what_we_do/speaking To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:https://rotary.cool