All photos by student journalist Lindsay Luberecki.
Hundreds of curious, creative, community-minded folks converged on the historic Sarasota Opera House last week for the 10th anniversary edition of the PINC Experience.
PINC—short for People, Ideas, Nature, and Community—presents a daylong series of dynamic talks and demonstrations that, on paper, might seem to have little in common. This year’s speakers ranged from a Native American cultural curator and an Afghan rapper and women’s rights activist to a pioneering “digital naturalist” and a kinetic sculptor. But as each discussed their deeply specific expertise, wholly unique craft, or improbable personal story, clear and meaningful themes emerged.
- The vital importance of resilience.
- The value (and fun!) of “hacking” the status quo for impactful innovation.
- The restorative and refreshing power of connecting with nature.
- Commonalities we share despite the complexities of our personal circumstances.
A creative ripple effect
Anand Pallegar, founder of DreamLarge and chief champion of PINC, began the day by recalling how the idea of launching PINC in Sarasota started, literally, with a sketch on a napkin. Anand expressed PINC’s goal that attendees leave the event looking at the world a little differently than they did when they came in.
“The magic of PINC comes from each person in this room,” he said, “from the collective spirit we create when we come together to learn, to grow, and to dream.”
Rather than recap each speaker’s roughly 20-minute talk, we’ve compiled some links below where you can learn more about their compelling work and fascinating stories. We’ve also sprinkled in a few of our favorite insights from the day. But we know that inspiration—like beauty—is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to this eclectic ensemble. So explore their ideas yourself and see where they take you!
Bob Delaney, post-traumatic stress advocate and NBA Cares Ambassador
Watch Bob discuss trauma and self care on ABC7’s Suncoast View
“Self-care doesn’t mean selfish.” — Bob Delaney
Reuben Margolin, kinetic sculptor
Ride the wave of Reuben’s mesmerizing art
Phil Klotzbach, meteorologist, Colorado State University
Learn how a preeminent hurricane forecaster came to be based at the foot of the Rocky Mountains
“Indecision is a type of wave. It’s an oscillation between two possibilities.” — Reuben Margolin
Lori Nix and Kathleen Gerber, dystopian artists
Explore Lori and Kathleen’s hauntingly beautiful “post-apocalyptic” dioramas
Saroo Brierley, author of A Long Way Home and subject of Oscar-nominated film Lion
Meet the inspiring real-life Lion
“Sometimes catching the wrong train can take you to the right station.” — Saroo Brierley
Andrew Quitmeyer, founder, Digital Naturalism Laboratories
Visit Andy’s “jungle prototyping studio” in the Panamanian rainforest
Yasmin Keats, adaptive designer and executive director of Open Style Lab
Read some of Yasmin’s thoughts on designing for a more accessible and inclusive future
“Looking at accessibility can give you a window into creativity or innovation.” — Yasmin Keats
Sonita Alizadeh, Afghan rapper and activist for women’s rights
Hear Sonita’s music and learn her incredible story—which she calls “just one among millions”
Jordan Dresser, cultural curator , filmmaker, and former chairman of the Northern Arapaho Tribe
Watch the trailer for Who She Is, Jordan’s documentary about the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
Laura Krantz, pop-science journalist
Check out Laura’s podcast series, which debuted with a deep dive into the legend of Bigfoot
