What happens when a TEDx talk inspires a community to get outside, slow down, and count bees?
That question brought TEDxAtlanta to Lost Corner Preserve in Sandy Springs, Georgia, for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census. What started as an idea shared on our stage—entomologist Kris Braman’s 2023 talk, The Secret of Wild Bees in Cities—has become an annual adventure where we put that idea into practice.
As the TEDxAtlanta license holder, Jacqui Chew, explains, “That talk made us realize we couldn’t think of a better way to combine learning by doing and full immersion in the environment.”
Her vision turned inspiration into action, creating a tradition that blends science, community, and curiosity.
Instead of simply listening, we spent a morning observing. Instead of just hearing about the value of pollinators, we documented them: butterflies drifting between blooms, bumblebees zigzagging across flowers, even the humble ants and flies that keep ecosystems ticking.
With clipboards in hand, children, families, and TEDx community members joined thousands of others across the Southeast in a citizen-science project that turns everyday observations into data researchers will use to track biodiversity.
Lost Corner Preserve was buzzing with life. A butterfly bush quickly became the star attraction, drawing clusters of butterflies. Elsewhere, moths darted through damp air, flies rested on leaves, and the occasional bee zigzagged across blossoms.
For Kathryn Woods, a TEDxAtlanta speaker coach, the real challenge isn’t spotting insects—it’s staying still long enough to notice them.
She laughs after recording a single bumblebee and a couple of ants: “I move around a lot in life. It’s a discipline to stay still, but that’s when you notice things—the gem of knowledge.”
Later, she reflects that the experience reminds her how “the ripple effect of our actions is so important… Just because we don’t see the impact doesn’t mean it isn’t there.”
Recent TEDxAtlanta speaker Ana Tardio connects the activity to broader themes. “At TEDx, we talk about sustainability and what we can do, not just for the environment, but for ourselves as humans. Small activities like this connect to those ideas and help build a stronger community.”
Her tally sheet brims with life: a caterpillar, two butterflies, a bumblebee, several flies, and even a few spiders. “Every drop counts when you’re filling a glass,” she says. “You can’t just look at the whole, you have to value the individual drops too.”
Together, our counts feel like drops in a larger glass of collective action. Every observation feeds into a regional database for researchers while also giving us a moment to slow down and connect.
The census took place at Lost Corner Preserve, a 24-acre park lovingly maintained by the Friends of Lost Corner and the North Fulton Master Gardeners. Their presence added richness to the day, grounding our observations in both history and local expertise.
Master Gardeners Kathleen Meucci and Kathy Kamille share how they joined the program during the pandemic and now devote their time to cultivating and educating. Known around their neighborhood as the “Garden Girls,” they see their role as much about teaching as planting. As one of them puts it, “Pollinators are good. They’re not here to sting us, they’re here to help us all live.”
They joke about being “not at a loss for words,” but their delight in TEDxAtlanta’s presence is clear: “You all made it for us. On a rainy day, how many butterflies do you usually find? Yet your people were enthusiastic, asking about the beehives and the plants. We’re so glad you came.”
Their warmth is matched by generosity—Kathy even promises to follow up with fig tree advice for a participant struggling at home.
For Jacqui, this illustrates the larger takeaway: the census not only produces scientific data but also cultivates something just as vital—connection.
“It speaks to the interest and care people have for the world around them, our planet, and our food supply,” she says. “And it’s a way to learn by doing, together.”
The counts from our morning—whether butterflies, bumblebees, or flies—are just one drop in a much larger effort. Yet, as Ana reminds us, every drop fills the glass. Kathryn speaks of the ripple effect of small actions. And Jacqui shows us how one TEDx talk can spark real-world change.
That’s the heart of this story: an idea left the stage and entered our daily lives. It gave us a way to connect with nature, contribute to science, and strengthen our community.
Citizen-science projects like the Great Southeast Pollinator Census turn ideas into action, and anyone can take part.
This isn’t unique to Atlanta. Any TEDx chapter can create something similar—citizen-science projects exist everywhere, waiting to be paired with curiosity and collective action. All it takes is a clipboard, fifteen minutes, and the willingness to notice what’s already buzzing around you.
Three women, one mission: to redesign fashion for people and the planet.
What if the future of fashion isn’t just about what we wear, but how we live?
At Exploring Innovations in Sustainable Fashion, hosted by Ideas into Action in collaboration with Georgia State University’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute and Creative Media Industries Institute, that question came to life through bold ideas, unexpected materials and a shared commitment to doing things differently. Set against the backdrop of Atlanta Tech Week, the evening brought together creatives, entrepreneurs and researchers who are transforming the fashion industry with science, intention and heart.
For Tia Robinson, sustainability starts with mindfulness. After years as a certified meditation instructor—and a thriving career in communications—she launched Vertical Activewear, a size-inclusive, sustainable apparel brand rooted in her own personal values. But when COVID disrupted the supply chain, Tia took matters into her own hands—literally—by bringing manufacturing in-house.
Her vertically integrated, on-demand model eliminates the guesswork and overproduction contributing to fashion’s staggering waste problem: 30 to 40% of all garments never sell. Vertical’s B2B membership model allows brands to produce only what they need, while its direct-to-consumer line blends bold design with fit education to reduce returns. No inventory. No landfill overflow. Just slow, smart growth.
Mya Love Griesbaum, a Georgia Tech materials science student and founder of Mycorrhiza Fashion, is growing the future—one mycelial thread at a time. In her lab, white rot fungi break down plastic waste and grow into a leather-like biomaterial. The result? A durable, biodegradable alternative to traditional leather and synthetics, without the environmental cost of livestock or petrochemicals.
What began as a bioremediation research project has evolved into a biomaterials startup that blends fashion, science and environmental justice. Each prototype tells a story—not just of circularity and innovation, but of aesthetics shaped by nature itself. “One of the most loved features,” Mya shared, “is the patterning. Designers don’t see flaws—they see beauty.”
Tanjuria Willis, founder of Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week, didn’t begin her career in the fashion world. An electrical engineer by training, she was driven into action after her infant daughter experienced unexplained health issues linked to toxic textile chemicals. That journey led her to research, then advocacy, and finally to founding a platform that celebrates local makers and educates the public on how fashion affects our health and environment.
Her wearable designs speak volumes—literally. Tanjuria showcased pieces made from construction fencing, lanyards, game day banners and recycled textiles. Her mission is clear: reduce waste, elevate craft and make sustainability accessible. Through workshops, repair cafés and partnerships, her team empowers others to reuse, reimagine and create beauty from the discarded.
The panelists didn’t just present ideas—they invited dialogue. And the audience delivered.
How can we tell if a brand is greenwashing?
Mya pointed to misleading labels and vague claims—like garments tagged “100% recycled” that refer only to the label itself. Tanjuria and Tia recommended sites likeGood On You andRemake.world, as well as reviewing factory certifications and supply chain transparency.
Does changing 10% of our purchases really make a difference?
Yes. Buying even one of every ten garments from an on-demand or sustainable source can shift retail behavior, reduce waste and signal demand for better practices. Multiply that by millions of consumers, and the impact grows.
What if sustainable fashion feels too expensive or inaccessible?
“There’s no one-size-fits-all solution,” Tanjuria said. “Start where you are.” Whether it’s upcycling a T-shirt into a tote or choosing one mindful purchase, small actions can have a ripple effect.
What’s next for the future of fashion?
The speakers pointed to a convergence of technology, biology and design—from AI-powered patternmaking and 3D printing to compostable fabrics and regenerative sourcing. The shared goal? A fashion industry that heals more than it harms.
Sustainable fashion isn’t a trend—it’s a transformation. And it’s being led by people who aren’t waiting for permission to build something better.
As the evening closed, the message was clear: We all have a role to play. Whether you’re a designer, a student, a shopper or a scientist, the future of fashion is something you can influence—one purchase, one question, one idea at a time.
Want to get involved?
Follow the work of Vertical Activewear, Mycorrhiza Fashion, and Atlanta Sustainable Fashion Week
Try the 10% shift: buy just one in ten items from a sustainable source
Rethink, repair or repurpose what’s already in your closet
Fashion shapes culture. Let’s shape it with care.
The Partnership for Inclusive Innovation (Partnership), led by founding Executive Director Debra Lam, a TEDxAtlanta 2023 Atlanta conference speaker, was founded to catalyze communities and individuals into creating solutions and pursuing innovations that solve problems and maximize individual potential.
A collaboration of leading private companies across Georgia and learning institutions including Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia, the Partnership leverages its resources to advance technology and innovation in an equitable manner statewide.
As Lam said in her talk, innovation is not just about creating cutting-edge technologies or revolutionary products; it’s also about ensuring that these advancements benefit everyone in society.
Central to its mission is a philosophy that innovation and great ideas can come from anyone and anywhere. Actively promoting diversity and ensuring that all voices are heard creates a future framework for more successful outcomes because all stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute and succeed.
It’s why since its formation in 2020, the Partnership has been focused on breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. It’s about recognizing the unique perspectives and talents that each person brings to the table and harnessing those strengths to drive collective progress.
Leveraging technology innovations and being intentional about problem solving, has led to local communities to harness artificial intelligence to improve healthcare outcomes and prevent water drownings, and use research to deploy solutions that improve air quality and address climate change.
By bringing together diverse stakeholders, promoting collaboration to harness the power of technology for social good, the Partnership has garnered international recognition for creating a model centered on driving meaningful progress toward more equitable and sustainable futures.
Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels that power the world economy. They sustain global production and support nearly everything we touch produce or need from energy production to the crops we grow.
Nothing serves as a clearer reminder of that than the ubiquitous gas station — all 168,000 of them found across the U.S.
But the TEDxAtlanta May 16, 2024 Salon considers “What Happens to Gas Stations When the World Goes Electric?” [REGISTER HERE] Part of TEDxAtlanta’s focus on issues connected to sustainability, the Salon is being held at Georgia Tech’s Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design — the first building in Georgia and one of only 28 in the world to be granted Living Building Challenge certification.
The Salon features the 2023 TED Talk exploring that question as presented by Emily Grubert, associate professor of sustainable energy policy at the University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs.
Formerly a professor at Georgia Tech, Grubert’s talk sets a framework for what a world running fully electric could look like and what that could mean for cars, tools, and jobs that rely on fossil fuels.
That presentation will be followed by small group meetings led by subject matter experts who will look to help attendees develop an appreciation for the complexities that are encapsulated in the societal transition from infrastructure built on fossil fuels to clean energy.
“Sustainability is driving fast-paced changes in how we view the use of fossil fuels, our adoption of alternatives, and moving to a new way overall regarding the kinds of energy we use to keep our economies and way of life as we know it strong,” said Jacqui Chew, TEDxAtlanta Licensee. “Hosting this Salon in the Kendeda Building, which is fully sustainable not only in its use of energy, but also design, will give attendees a tangible understanding of the possibilities as they ponder the central question we are posing.”
This Salon is one of several planned for the year that will encourage attendees to explore new ideas and consider new approaches in the understanding of various subjects such as sustainability.
They are all part of a broader focus for TEDxAtlanta leading up to the 2024 theme of the mainstage event in September: The Future We Will Create.
The Salon venue is being provided by the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, a public-private organization focused on advancing technology and innovation in an equitable manner across the state of Georgia.
Alistair “Al” Dove is one of the foremost experts on the whale shark, the world’s largest fish. He is a leading voice in marine research and education inspiring audiences around the world with his passion, expertise and storytelling skills.
From the depths of the Arctic Ocean to the coral reefs of the Caribbean, Al has explored and documented the biodiversity of some of the most inhospitable environments on Earth. His work has contributed to our understanding of the complex and interconnected ecosystems that make up our blue planet.
As Vice President of Science and Education at the Georgia Aquarium, he leads education, research and conservation initiatives and spearheads partnerships with other institutions. His work with policymakers and industry leaders have contributed to advancing sustainable marine resource management and conservation practices.
The Whale Shark, by the Georgia Aquarium
Whale Sharks: Biology, Ecology, and Conservation, edited by Alistair D. M. Dove and Simon J. Pierce
