Can choosing curiosity over judgment make the world a better place? Ariana Vargas shares a personal journey that began with a mission to help their son and led to a vision for a more compassionate world. By embracing kindness, self-acceptance, and curiosity we can crowdsource hope, dismantle stigma, and transform lives.******We could not do this without community support. With special thanks to the University of Oregon for their presenting partnership. The world-class stage production by For Good & Co. The incredible legacy bound Event Book provided by Premier Press. Lastly, the brand identity and creative digital craft provided by our Agency of Record - Thesis. All of our Partners and event history can be found at TEDxPortland.com. Ariana Vargas, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, has built her career around brand strategy with a focus on employer branding, corporate philanthropy, and social justice. As the founder and former CEO of STIGMA, a mental health app named Google’s “2022 Best App for Good,” she has been a champion of mental health innovation. Born in Costa Rica to a father with schizophrenia, and as a mother to an autistic son, Ariana shares her journey living with anxiety and panic disorder. She now leads brand strategy at Populous, the global design firm behind iconic sports and live entertainment architecture. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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