Opportunity Green mixes with TEDx at USC

Posted on 23. Mar, 2009 by Chathri Munasinghe in Events

One part USC. Two parts TED. Shaken, and definitely stirred. That’s the basic formula behind TEDx, the first university pilot of the TED conference where “X” equals an “independently organized TED event.” The experiment was created to foster new ideas, dialogue, and conversation – similar to what Opportunity Green is doing for the green economy. Mike Flynn, Co-Founder of Opportunity Green, was on the invite-only attendee list and mingled among game-changers and brilliant minds.

Flynn’s favorite presentation (previously recorded at TED 2009 Long Beach) focused on mandatory spending. Mandatory spending is essentially programs funded by the government like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs like food stamps and unemployment compensation. In 2009 mandatory spending ate up 61% of the U.S. Federal Budget and will increase to an alarming 100% by 2017. Ultimately, discretionary spending, funds for items like energy and healthcare, will be wiped out. This highlights the need to have radical overhauls of our national spending, including a decrease in military spending and an increase in preventative healthcare.

Following the two TEDx sessions, an after party kicked off at USC’s Town and Gown hall. Adam Mefford of Mindshare, showcased interactive installations that encourage strangers to play together by lowering social barriers. Mindshare Labs regularly showcases new projects at the monthly Mindshare event in Downtown LA.