Written by Nidia Trejo
It was an amazing experience to give a TED-style talk with Women in Clean Tech & Sustainability Talks (WCS Talks) at Google. These talks are held once a year, and among a super supportive community of women (and men). I met the founder of Women in Cleantech & Sustainability, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, when she was invited to give a talk at a start-up incubator in Ithaca New York early 2017. She spoke about how important it is for women to share their unique perspectives in public spaces. Because in doing so, it can inspire other women to speak up, and help lead a path toward a greater number of women leaders.
(http://www.womencleantechsustainability.org/)
I submitted my speaker application on the concept of Social & Environmental Responsibility in Fashion. For 7 months, I was trying to figure out how to make it unique. Being an active member of the Latinas In STEM Foundation, the Climate Reality Project, and learning about the United Nations - Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 really helped me shape my story. I shared the story of my grandmother coming to the US from El Salvador to sew clothing, and how she inspired me to make fashion collections. I showed pictures of clothes I made and dyed with natural and synthetic colorants to express sustainable opportunities. I proposed solutions to making safer chemicals, preserving water as a natural resource, and empowerment of makers in the supply chain for innovation framed around the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
It was an amazing experience to give a TED-style talk with Women in Clean Tech & Sustainability Talks (WCS Talks) at Google. These talks are held once a year, and among a super supportive community of women (and men). I met the founder of Women in Cleantech & Sustainability, Lisa Ann Pinkerton, when she was invited to give a talk at a start-up incubator in Ithaca New York early 2017. She spoke about how important it is for women to share their unique perspectives in public spaces. Because in doing so, it can inspire other women to speak up, and help lead a path toward a greater number of women leaders.
(http://www.womencleantechsustainability.org/)
I submitted my speaker application on the concept of Social & Environmental Responsibility in Fashion. For 7 months, I was trying to figure out how to make it unique. Being an active member of the Latinas In STEM Foundation, the Climate Reality Project, and learning about the United Nations - Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 really helped me shape my story. I shared the story of my grandmother coming to the US from El Salvador to sew clothing, and how she inspired me to make fashion collections. I showed pictures of clothes I made and dyed with natural and synthetic colorants to express sustainable opportunities. I proposed solutions to making safer chemicals, preserving water as a natural resource, and empowerment of makers in the supply chain for innovation framed around the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Nidia Trejo on stage at WCS Talks 2017.
The audience was 200+ mainly from private companies, non profits, and students. I was one of the youngest speakers! I was surprised that many of the audience members were very interested in learning more about what I'm doing in sustainable fashion, and seem really eager to help. From the audience members, I learned that NASA Ames is working on water recycling projects for their space travel, and Levi Strauss & Co gave me invaluable advice on several of my ideas.
Women in Cleantech & Sustainability has already posted the 2018 Speaker Submission application. I hope the Latinas in STEM community submits applications to speak, and I’ll share mine once it is available on YouTube.
Women in Cleantech & Sustainability has already posted the 2018 Speaker Submission application. I hope the Latinas in STEM community submits applications to speak, and I’ll share mine once it is available on YouTube.
Lineup of speakers, right to left. Kate Brandt (Lead for Sustainability at Google), Kenetia Lee (Beauty Activist & Author of Fearless Beauty 360°), Nidia Trejo (Sustainability Advocate, United Nations Development Program), Mona Maitra (VP of Silicon Valley Bank).
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