New decade, new ideas! What better way to start off 2020 than at an evening full of forward-thinkers, innovators, artists, and community organizers all with one goal: to have a positive social impact on our world.

This is exactly what happened at the annual Night of Ideas sponsored by the French Consulate in Los Angeles. As the social media representative for newly formed alumni group, Stanford Alumni for Social Impact, Innovation, and Investing, I attended Night of Ideas, hosted by the Natural History Museum, to learn about what my peers were doing to make this world a better place for all.The worldwide theme for this year’s Night of Ideas was “Being Alive.” My first inspiring conversation of the night happened at the XPrize Foundation booth. The XPrize Foundation, with some notable Stanford alumni like Google co-founder Larry Page sitting on the Board of Trustees, and Stanford Women in Business president, Priyanka Jain participating in their Innovation Board, uses global competitions to solve some of the world’s most critical issues, and hopefully bring “us closer to a better, safer, more sustainable world.”

After speaking with Haneen and Anya, both very enthusiastic XPrize representatives, I learned that a recent competition resulted in lowering carbon emissions while using the emissions to make items like sneakers, sweatshirts, and even vodka! As we chatted about all of the different arenas where social impact is necessary, I was thankful to be in a room with like-minded change agents.

Next on the agenda was an inspiring mini lecture by Evens Stievenart, world class cyclist and race car driver, on the importance of mental and physical endurance. The 2019 winner of Race Across America, Stievenart was the perfect candidate to talk about how training his mind and body enabled him endure extreme conditions, ultimately driving him to champion status. Walking the audience through his rigorous daily training schedule, which includes a mindful meditation practice, Stievenart inspired the crowd with his closing words. “Activate your body, activate your mind. I was looking for my limits and I haven’t found them yet. You don’t know your limits yet; you don’t know what you’re capable of. Trust me – you are more powerful than what you think.”

Wow! What great words from this French champion to motivate everyone to make a positive social impact, no matter what area of the world we inhabit. Continuing on through the Natural History Museum, I met community organizers from Friends of the L.A. River, Black Girls Trekkin’, and Latino Outdoors. It was inspiring to see such a diverse representation of Angelenos working together to make the world a better place for all.

Which is exactly the mission of Stanford Alumni for Social Impact, Innovation, and Investing: to unite alumni who are passionate about incorporating the principles of social impact into their professional and personal lives. As a global alumni group, we’re able to connect with alumni and community leaders from Los Angeles to La Paz to London…and everywhere in between!As our group begins to plan events around innovation in the social impact sphere, as well as how to invest in socially responsible ventures and companies, we would love for you to be involved. If you’ve ever participated in Stanford’s Beyond the Farm community day of service, this is a way to keep that spirit alive throughout the year. Join us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and of course through your Stanford Alumni Association page.

New decade, new group, and more social impact!