Design-Think Systemic Change
A discussion focused on how important curiosity is in challenging our assumptions about problems and issues in our community. True impact and change comes from the ability to think freely and try things out in order to find solutions that work for different people affected by 1 type of problem. This Tedx Talk is aimed to inspire critical thinking in speakers and connect the value of learning and developing an essential toolkit of design-thinking to create real and tactical change in our community.
Sparkle Whitaker in Houston, TX at The Ion Houston (2023)
4201 Main St, Houston, TX 77002
Whitaker the founder and driving force behind two game-changing initiatives, "The Onyx Incubator" and "The Onyx Label." The Onyx Label is a fashion brand founded and led by Sparkle, which is committed to sustainable, on-demand production and the implementation of zero-waste techniques. By offering stylish and accessible fashion while reducing its impact on the environment, The Onyx Label is making a significant contribution to a more sustainable future. From teaching local workshops in neighborhood coffee shops to having collections revealed on the Chicago Fashion Week Runway, this brand is making strides in educating its consumers.
Whitaker was featured as the inaugural recipient of the Ambition Accelerator Grant from Taco Bell Foundation to further the mission of her nonprofit--The Onyx Incubator. The Onyx Incubator is a non-profit educational collective dedicated to empowering at-risk youth through design workshops and mentorship. The program offers these young people the chance to develop their creative and social skills, helping them build a brighter future.
Sparkle believes that while design thinking has the power to shape our society into one that empowers its neighbors, it is also true that access to effectively create solutions in the community is limited to those who have the social and financial agency to do so. Sparkle sees that many youth are not afforded access to these tools due to cost or their legal background. Sparkle wants to provide a program that will give these youth access to top-tier mentorship and creative training so they can forge a path and career of their choosing. She believes Chicago needs a creative intervention to disrupt the disheartening cycle of violence that burdens the city.
