Matthew Chang
A Teen Climate Activist’s Perspective on the Cumulative Power of Action
/
Conversation Date: 05/17/2023
At first glance, an innocuous cold email may not seem like a powerful seed of change. But for Matthew, it has led to a climate movement and years of public service. In this conversation, Matthew explores the “compounding” effect of small actions, from personal interactions with government officials to starting a school garden, and how these minor steps of progress can exponentially blossom into a larger crusade. He hopes his personal journey, from student to organization leader, can encourage and inspire other young changemakers to take action on their beliefs.
Matthew Chang
A 16-year-old climate education champion, Matthew Chang leads Climate Garden, a global movement of over two hundred schools and a thousand students, and was recognized by the Orange County Register as one of its 125 Most Influential People of 2022 and by the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce as a 40 Under 40 listmaker. Matthew serves on the City of Irvine Green Ribbon Environmental Committee as its first student member at large. He is deeply involved with local community leaders like Congresswoman Katie Porter and the Irvine City Council to empower other youth activists and promote climate reform. Matthew hosts Sustainable Future on Spotify, broadcasting weekly interviews with changemakers to an audience spanning four continents.
He currently serves as class president of Woodbridge High School and is passionate about using public speaking to better the world.
More Resources
Upcoming Salon Conversations
Sarah Thurber – “Good Team, Bad Team” Lead Your People to Go After Big Challenges—Not Each Other
July 24, 2024 4PM PacificFinding a good team, much less a good leader is hard. Let’s tackle this challenge from a cognitive perspective and explore proven practices for helping teams think creatively, work collaboratively, and deliver extraordinary results.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Delida Costin – Defying Imposter Syndrome
August 7, 2024 at 4pm PacificIn today’s fast-paced corporate world, ‘imposter syndrome’ often shadows even the most competent leaders, framing their doubts as personal shortcomings rather than reflections of broader systemic issues. This conversation explores how Delida challenges this narrative with her extensive experience in high-stakes corporate roles.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Brian Reisinger – Disappearing Farms, Disappearing Food: How to Save America’s Food Supply
Aug 28, 2024 04:00 PM in Pacific TimeOver four decades ago, America made an unconscious choice: We let our technological innovation leave many of our family farms behind. Today the disappearance of the American farmer endangers our food supply, but there’s a better way.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
Anjum Malik – Transforming Lives with Global Equity
September 4, 2024 4PM PacificExplore the transformative idea of global equity through this TEDx Salon conversation focused on empowering marginalized communities. Discover how strategic educational, professional development and mentorship interventions can bridge gaps impacting vulnerable populations. Learn about the potential of global collaboration to foster lifelong learning, generational stability, and economic integration, highlighting the profound impact of these initiatives in achieving worldwide equity.
Speaker bio & Register for this talk
