By: Jade Rayner
News Editor

Through the hard work of an all-volunteer team with the desire to build a stronger, more connected community, TEDxSalem successfully held its fourth event, “Revolutions,” on Jan. 7 at the Salem Convention Center. TEDx is an independently organized TED event where you can see live talks on a broad spectrum of topics, as well as videos of TED talks.

Kelsey Juliana, 20, spoke about her experience being a part of the landmark US climate lawsuit alongside twenty other youth, and the power that millennials have to make a difference, specifically when it comes to climate change.

“When I was fifteen, before I could vote, drive or even have my first kiss, I sued the governor of Oregon” Juliana stated to begin her speech.

Juliana has now attended court six times for filing cases against the state and federal government because “by choice my government has been funding and permitting excessive amounts of fossil fuel projects that are polluting our land, air, water and contributing to climate destabilization.” She demanded that “youth need to be taken seriously … I see youth as revolutionaries.”

While closing her talk, Juliana encouraged that we act in whatever way we can to make a difference. For those needing a place to start, Juliana explained, “The steps to being an agent of change, to committing to being a changemaker, starts like this: you show up, you say yes and then you bring your magic. It’s a reflective process … no one can bring what you have.”

The second session of the conference started strong with Vanessa Timmons, executive director of the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence in Portland, Oregon. She spoke the courage in those she works with, courageous storytelling, and community.

In an interview with Timmons she explained that for her first TED experience she “wanted to focus on resiliency for survivors … often people think about what I do and they think about victimization. But when you’re an advocate doing this work, what you really experience and witness is resilience and power; the absolute brilliance of survivors.”

When asked what students can do for survivors of sexual assault Timmons explained, “The first line of response for survivors is often a family member or friend…so when someone tells you about domestic violence or sexual assault the first thing, and the most important thing you can do is believe them … then you allow the person to explore options with you. You don’t have to have all the answers.”

Bringing the interview to a close, Timmons said, “the most important thing for me to communicate in my talk, and in my work is that we all matter. We are all important, and we are all essential to changing the world.”

Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu