Your Creative Superpowers Can Help Protect Democracy | Sofia Ongele | TED
Saugus High School Shooting: A Personal Reflection
The Incident and Its Aftermath
- Four years ago, a shooting occurred at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California, where the speaker's sister, Jenny, narrowly avoided danger as she witnessed students fleeing.
- Parents gathered at Central Park to reunite with their children after the lockdown; three days later, a vigil was held for victims Gracie Muehlberger and Dominic Blackwell.
- The vigil became the largest gathering in the city's history, showcasing community unity despite existing divisions. This tragedy highlighted broader issues related to democracy and social justice.
Rethinking Participation in Democracy
- The speaker reflects on traditional views of democratic participation—voting and running for office—arguing that these are often too narrow and exclude many individuals due to age or disenfranchisement.
- Emphasizes that everyone has tools to voice their opinions within a democracy; it’s about learning how to utilize those tools effectively.
Utilizing Technology for Advocacy
- The speaker found empowerment through coding and social media as unconventional means of influence during times of crisis. They stress meeting communities where they are while promoting joy in activism.
- Following the push for a memorial for Gracie and Dominic, local officials initially opposed it despite community support; this led to organized efforts by parents to petition city council approval.
Overcoming Bureaucratic Challenges
- Despite initial approval from city council, complications arose when it was revealed that the land belonged to the Santa Clarita Water Board, which had its own committee against the memorial proposal.
- Frustration grew as community efforts seemed undermined by bureaucratic processes; however, the speaker felt empowered through their skills in coding and social media advocacy.
Mobilizing Community Action
- At 15 years old, the speaker learned coding at Kode With Klossy summer program; during COVID-19 lockdowns, they gained a following on TikTok while advocating for voter mobilization among peers.
- They created an online tool allowing people to easily submit public comments regarding agenda items related to the memorial proposal just before a critical deadline.
Success Through Collective Efforts
- Within hours of sharing their tool across social media platforms with significant reach (150k followers), there was overwhelming community response leading up to a vote by the water board on approving the memorial.
How a Coding Tool Helped Shut Down a Teacher-Reporting Tipline
The Creation of the Tool
- A tool was developed to allow users to send humorous content, such as song lyrics and lines from The Bee Movie, to a teacher-reporting tipline.
- The absurdity of the reports generated by this tool highlighted the ridiculous nature of the tipline itself, making democracy feel more engaging and accessible.
Impact and Community Response
- After sharing the tool with friends at Gen-Z for Change, thousands of emails were sent nationwide, leading to rapid responses and ultimately resulting in the tipline's closure within months.
- The collective action demonstrated that grassroots efforts could overpower traditional power structures when united against injustice.
Power in Different Forms
- Emphasizing that power can manifest in various ways, individuals are encouraged to utilize their unique skills—whether through writing, music, or financial support—to effect change.