People take shoes for granted, but it’s clear how important they are when you don’t have access to them. Shoes are also awesome and allow s to related dto each other. So what if we could combine these things and make sneakerhead culture into a force for good that also delivers high quality shoes to those in need?

Black women often spend a lot on their hair but always don’t see the benefits of that spending directly in their lives. What if we could empower them to be both consumers and successful business people in the hair marketplace? The first female millionaire built her fortune on a hair care business, and it can be done again.

Sex, relationships and health can be hard to talk about for many people. Our bodies are sometimes awkward and interacting with others can be weird. Illustration can help us get over that difficulty, making the things we aren’t supposed to talk about visual and fun. Whether it’s periods or failed hookups or body parts, we can all benefit by removing stigma and being more open.

Being a refugee in a new country can be very difficult. Finding community isn’t easy, but it is possible. Sports, and boxing in particular, can be a powerful site of connection that enables people to find their own voice and succeed.

Music is able to travel around the world, creating global communities, but traditional forms are sometimes lost to time. In this hybrid performance and talk, we learn about traditional Chinese instruments and musical forms and see how they can bring us closer across space and time.

Drawn on moving personal experience, this talk explores the ways new AI driven technology can meaningfully improve the lives of people with physical challenges. Whether it’s preventing injury in the first place, helping someone navigate a space that isn’t built for them or offering emotional support, AI can radically transform lives for the better.