Innovation and bettering government services through community involvement were the focuses of Bioscience High School’s first TEDx event, a local version of the popular talk series that features community leaders.
The Evans Churchill Community Association sponsored the event, which reached full occupancy in person and was streamed live online. The ECCA organized the first TEDxEvansChurchill event in February, streaming an official TED conference live from Long Beach, Calif., at FilmBar.
ECCA board President Kevin Rille said he was surprised by the overall turnout and success of the event.
“It was way better than we could have ever imagined,” Rille said. “It was awesome.”
The event featured 10 speakers who highlighted the importance of innovation and student engagement in the community. Discussions centered on topics including art, fashion, government and education.
Bioscience High School Principal Quintin Boyce kicked off the discussion with a message encouraging students to think critically. The school promotes experience over rote textbook knowledge, Boyce said.
“This is an amazing opportunity to be a part of the TEDx event, not only for us but for the downtown community,” Boyce said. “This school is a pretty unique place, and it’s amazing the opportunities these students are getting here.”
One of the speakers was Bioscience teacher Stephanie Grijalva, who sought to teach students how to identify real-world problems. Grijalva said the event was a success judging by its attendance and the diverse perspectives the discussion encompassed.
“We are aimed to take education to the next level,” Grijalva said. “However, it has to involve the community, which allows us to share what we are doing in schools, like teaching these students how to identify and solve real-world problems.”
Another presenter was the director of Budget and Research for Phoenix, Mario Paniagua, who discussed his work for the Innovation and Efficiency Task Force created by the city in 2010.
“We’ve done a lot to change the culture of the city of Phoenix to encourage innovation and efficiency,” Paniagua said. “Innovation has to lead, and efficiency will follow.”
The task force’s goal for 2015 is to save $100 million through creating innovated technologies that serve the community and save money, Paniagua said.
“It’s about rethinking everything we do,” he said. “It’s not easy reinnovating government. Laws, regulations and following due process all stand in the way but that means we try harder.”
Survey results show that 95 percent of Phoenix residents agree city services are improving, such as using transportation for the elderly, according to Paniagua. Senior citizens now ride in smaller vehicles rather than buses. This is a service enhancement that allows senior citizens to be in control, he said.
Cole Reed, another presenter and a co-owner of GreenHaus gallery and boutique, said the Phoenix community could become a better place by recognizing the importance and power of the phrase “I am.” She said finding one’s unique identity and abilities leads to individuality and innovation.
“I was asked to come here today because I’m not shy and not afraid to talk about things that need to be talked about,” Reed said. “It’s not always going to be graceful or pretty, but you have to have a strong heart.”
The discussion also included Bioscience High School students Zie Weathers and Anayensi Almarez.
Almarez used the example of students creating a prosthetic tail for an alligator and their collaboration with the Arizona Science Center to show how youths can contribute to society.
Contact the reporter at tmjosep1@asu.edu
