Inspiring People: Stories of Innovation and Service

The Kelsey is a Bay Area-based nonprofit with a national impact, working at the intersection of housing and disability. The Kelsey both builds and advocates for accessible, affordable, and inclusive housing—what they call "disability-forward" housing. You will get an overview of The Kelsey's work, sharing how The Kelsey came to be, why this work matters, its current projects and impa...

Meghan Wood, co-founder of Raya Power , explains how solar power, despite its substantial promise, is still out of reach for many families. In the U.S., even small plug-in solar systems can trigger complex utility rules, shutting out renters and middle-income households. In Puerto Rico, residents face some of the highest electricity rates in the country and hundreds of power outages each year. And...

Today we will hear about the Kakuma Vocational Center (KVC), and how the founder's interactions with community members in the Kakuma Refugee Camp revealed challenges faced by the population, particularly youth and young women. As one example of the socio-economic and education challenges these women face, it became clear that a holistic education option would help young women who lacked support af...

Effective communication is the foundation of organizational success. In this talk, Dr Sherrie Tennessee explores how internal clarity and external care shape workplace culture, team performance, and customer experience. We'll look at practical strategies to improve communication, enhance service excellence, and build high-performing environments across hospitality, business, and education sect...

Except for habitat destruction, collisions with sheet glass and plastic in residential, commercial, and educational buildings cause the deaths of more birds than any other human-associated avian mortality factor. The toll is estimated in the billions worldwide. Conservation, ethical, and legal reasons justify preventing these unintended and unwanted fatalities that responsible human action can ide...

How might sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions strengthen health systems and communities when designed through a holistic, locally-driven lens? Drawing on Freshwater Project International’s on-the-ground work in Malawi , this presentation highlights a collaborative partnership with Engineers Without Borders USA and the Xylem Impact Project to address critical infrastructure...

Having had the life-changing Rotary experience of volunteering in the developing world, a group of Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Kamloops Daybreak established a charitable organization to introduce others to volunteering internationally. Developing World Connections was formed in 2004 and conducted their first volunteer trips in Sri Lanka after the Dec 25, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami. The valua...

Get ready to get your hands dirty. Area 2 Farms isn't just about farming; it's a hyper-local, soil-centric, and tech-savvy agricultural model pioneering the future of food by growing delicious, fresh, organic produce right inside urban centers. They've figured out how to make your salad greens more connected to your community. Prepare to learn how they're cultivating both crops and...

Traditional models of charity are unsustainable. Prof Jack Sim is a Master of the Leverage Model of Social Innovation, and he will explain how to use small budgets to create massively scalable impact sustainably. Professor Jack Sim, a.k.a. ""Mr Toilet,"" took up a neglected global sanitation crisis and mobilized the world's governments to solve this problem. Over the last 2...

A few years ago, Steve Baughman Jensen discovered that his third-great-grandfather wasn't just a slave owner — he was a slave trader who "invested his surplus earnings in negroes." He also helped lead a paramilitary organization that sought to preserve and expand slavery. This is an ancestor Steve's beloved grandmother had celebrated. One whose framed poem hung in Steve's den...

Project Ix Kuk is a women’s health initiative in Guatemala focused on preventing cervical cancer through community-based HPV screening and immediate care. Working in partnership with local midwives, hospitals, and public health leaders , the project introduces self-collected HPV testing using modern PCR technology and ensures timely follow-up with visual examination and same-day treatment when nee...

This talk will be about the problem in our society when progress is hindered by our irrational fear and attachment to past conventions. I will focus on medicine and why any groundbreaking shift in our medical practice has been slow. Josef Parvizi, M.D., Ph. D., is a neurologist and neuroscientist best known for his pioneering work in studying the human brain in neurosurgical patients using intracr...

Historically r edlined urban neighborhoods often face disproportionate environmental challenges, including flooding, loss of biodiversity, urban heat island effects, and air and soil pollution. The Miyawaki afforestation method, featuring dense planting of native species in revitalized soil, offers a fast, nature-based solution for restoring ecological function in these communities. By acceleratin...

How can meaningful travel go beyond sightseeing to create lasting impact? Brains, Borders, and Betterment dives into how immersive volunteer experiences can transform both the communities served and the travelers themselves. Together, we’ll discuss how to use intelligence, creativity, and compassion to approach global challenges, break down borders, and create better outcomes for all involved. Our...

In a world where one-third of all food produced goes to waste, Insectflux introduces a groundbreaking solution at the intersection of technology, agriculture, and sustainability. This presentation explores how Insectflux , the world’s first global B2B2C marketplace, connects the agri-food industry with the insect-farming sector to transform organic waste into high-value resources, such as protein,...

Mike Leggett shares insights from over two decades of international experience in transformative education and capacity building. He explores how shifting from models of aid to models of empowerment can unleash the potential of teachers and youth to become catalysts of social change. Drawing from the work of Fundashon Awenyo in Curaçao and beyond, he invites a deep rethinking of what it truly mean...

This week we'll hear about a personal climate journey and its relationship to Rotary environmental projects locally and internationally . Protecting the environment was added as Rotary's 7th Area of Focus in 2020. DeAnna Pursai is a proud dual Rotarian, member of the San Jose Rotary Club since 2015 and an honorary member of the Saratoga Rotary Club since 2022. She’s been a founding member...

Imagine Worldwide's goal is to solve the literacy and numeracy crisis for millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa . Foundational learning is the key to unlocking a child’s potential -- improving their health, wealth, and social outcomes -- and these improvements extend to future generations. With nearly half of global youth being African by 2030 , the urgency to find a scalable learning sol...

The convergence of advanced genomic sequencing technologies and innovative environmental sampling approaches are enabling discovery at whole biome scales and across the tree of life, from microbes to mammals. These technologies are taking us ever closer to the realization of the lifeform detection capabilities of the fictional Star Trek tricorder. Environmental DNA (eDNA) comprises trace amounts o...

Libraries are more than places to borrow books; they are dynamic centers of community connection and resource sharing. From lending tools to hosting community meetings and supporting local solutions to global challenges, libraries play a vital role in the sharing economy. Present in diverse communities around the world, they enable patrons to engage and escape, key elements of personal and collect...

This episode refers to a number of visuals that are in the video version which can be seen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fbnO3K6fxKt9pfaTp8mYn or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zxlfSvqAhOY • We believe the message is an important one, even if you do not watch the video, and hope that you will enjoy this and every episode of our series. Ben Schumaker first spoke to the Rotary eClub of Si...

2026 will see three major sporting events in Santa Clara County, the NFL Super Bowl, NCAA March Madness, and FIFA World Cup . There has been attention to the issue of human trafficking at sporting events, and the FIFA World Cup in Qatar brought the realities of labor exploitation to the international stage. Learn about what data tells us about sporting events, trafficking, and exploitation. Santa...

The World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) works to ensure that every person with a bleeding disorder has access to safe, effective, and sustainable care, no matter where they live. Around the world, thousands of people with bleeding disorders still face life-long pain, disability, and even early death due to a lack of diagnosis and treatment. In this talk, WFH Medical and Humanitarian Aid Director,...

Most job seekers don't know their resumes are screened by algorithms before humans ever see them. With 75% of employers using Applicant Tracking Systems, qualified candidates often get filtered out instantly while hiring managers can't find good talent. Soubhik Dawn, founder of AI career platform Upplai, will reveal how hiring really works today, and demonstrate how AI is now empowering ca...

Following visiting clubs all over our district, our district governor talks at both practical and philosophical levels about shifts happening (or should be happening) within Rotary. Herb Ritter has been a dedicated Rotarian for four decades. He is the 5170 District Governor in 2025-06, and has held a wide variety of leadership positions, including club president. Professionally, he enjoyed a succe...