repost: Reclaim Your Energy

PROBLEM Coming up with ideas for new projects is fun. But sometimes after we have an idea for a new project, we talk ourselves out of it: we don’t have the time; we aren’t qualified; someone else could do it better. Those excuses are often manifestations of fear. And rather than manage that fear, we … Continue reading repost: Reclaim Your Energy

Working Back and Forth

My graduate advisor, David Morgan, had a saying, "Work back and forth." By that he meant that it's wise to work on a project from multiple angles - pencil sketch, then build a 3D model, then go back to sketching, then revise in 3D. When we are working on complex problems, being able to set … Continue reading Working Back and Forth

Rigor, Practicality, and Beauty

I've never understood why people joke about basket weaving as something that's a fluff skill. True basket weavers engage in a craft that is rigorous, practical, and beautiful. What more could you want in something, really? Case in point: check out Swamp Road Baskets. The craft is unbelievable and the skill is undeniable. Craft is … Continue reading Rigor, Practicality, and Beauty

Meet People Where They Are

Meet people where they are. Talk about things that interest them. Listen, really listen. Show them that you heard them.

Artists and Infrastructure

We are in a New Deal type of moment with government investment in jobs, infrastructure, and digital transformation. Today we are investing in broadband and digital technology. Back then we invested in electrification and the technology of the day. Back then we engaged artists to help shape the story of the transformation we were engaging … Continue reading Artists and Infrastructure

Where we come from, what we do right now, and where we are going

SaLisa Berrien is the Founder and CEO of COI Energy-- a clean energy company whose name stands for "Circle of Influence." In a circle of influence, we look to the left and we know where we came from. We use that insight to figure out what we can do right now. And when we look … Continue reading Where we come from, what we do right now, and where we are going

Relationships Create Change

Find your people. Share your values. Explore ideas. Identify pieces to test out. Evaluate the tests and iterate together. Relationships are the engine. Collaborative projects help us figure out where to go.

Trust + Faith

This one is a little note to self. I lose these things all of the time. So I'm putting them where I can find them. "The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."-Ernest Hemingway"It's about Faith. It's about Trust. Yeah yeah." - Sade

An Inclusive and Interesting Tech Economy + Society

THE PROBLEMThe way that technology is taught and practiced in most spaces is not inviting or inclusive. This is problematic because it leads to a tech workforce and ecosystem dominated by white men. And since technology in an of itself amplifies whatever it is assigned to amplify, it amplifies homogenous values. THE RESPONSEIf we teach … Continue reading An Inclusive and Interesting Tech Economy + Society

Winter Projects

This winter I am taking a few classes. Each class is a different shape and size but one similarity is that they are live with real people at a regular cadence. I appreciate the structure and accountability that these regular meetings create. And the people are wonderful--I love being "in practice" with these people. We … Continue reading Winter Projects