chief product officer + lore @LongJourneyVC | built a new college @MinervaUni, investment banking 🐒 @BarclaysCIB, storyteller @themoth
San Francisco, CA
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I'm writing a cookbook for connection and launching the first recipes → cookbookforconnection.com
For 15+ years I've been the friend people texted at 11 pm before a big life thing.
"I'm walking into my first board meeting tomorrow, how do we build trust in the first 10 minutes?"
"I'm designing my 35th, help me make it more than a bar night."
"I'm going on a trip with my parents, how do we actually connect?"
"We're designing our intercultural wedding, how do we make it magical and not formulaic?"
🍽️ They each wanted a "recipe" for how to design an experience. I'm sharing some of the meaningful ones that helped them (ingredients, steps, and a little science explaining why it works).
👨👩👧 What I learned is that people wanted to connect with the most important people in their lives, but were stuck. Holidays with parents, date night with their partner, a cousin's trip, a team offsite, a birthday, a baby shower. We default to the same script and wonder why the night felt okay but not great. It's usually not a lack of love in the room. It is a lack of inspiration about how.
🍚 In the same way you pull up a food recipe when you want to cook something great for someone, I believe we need inspiration from recipes for the experiences we host. Magical recipes to teach people how to host, facilitate, and create the "vibes".
I will share a new recipe every Monday (cookbookforconnection.com).
Comment 👇: What recipes would you want to read? Who do you want to deepen connection with in your life?
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My experience of @cyantist is the embodiment of heart, grit, and ingenuity. She is able to see massive potential in people and ideas that others have counted out or underestimated in part because of her own journey, going from being homeless to a top angel investor. 🎲
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Who needs a haircut? @ariellezuck, @cyantist, @LeeJacobs and I are hosting a pop-up barbershop this Thursday. This is an experiment as we prototype magically weird experiences that don’t need to anchor around just drinking/alcohol + create joy, wonder, magic. 3 spots left.💈💇♂️💇♀️
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I was reminded this week @JoinEdgeCity of how important it is to be surrounded by humans who catalyze and enable your creativity. @ansonyuu and @nhfoley + @DanielleFong conjured up the idea of a Night Market in the woods of Healdsburg and it enabled the manifestation of 6 “food stalls” that nourished 100 people (nutritionally and emotionally). I was inspired to create a “Scally Panks & Life Stories” stall where I traded a scallion pancake taco for people’s 60 second life stories. Highlight of my week.
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Got vulnerable with 100 people in a movie theater last night during "Weird Wednesday" a monthly gathering co-hosted by
@cyantist, @ariellezuck, @LeeJacobs, and I. Folks came together to reflect on "free will" + 'choice", after watching Arrival & The Game. I have been missing intimate conversations such as this and was moved by people leaned in. We hoped to recreate some of the spirituality vibes you feel at church — openness and vulnerability amongst "intermediate friends and acquaintances."
What experience design concepts should we do next?
We're scheming on a "Life Soundtrack: Listening Party."
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When in doubt, answer the ringing black rotary phone at the front of a dimly lit movie theater + next to a bunch of split popcorn. Thank you for coming on this journey with us @AndrewMayne and @rushbhatia.
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I created a “candy slide” for Halloween to drum up trick or treating on our block. My wife and I were feeling sad about the low turnout in our Oakland neighborhood for trick or treating and wanted to do something to create a little magic. This was our prototype. It worked!
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@magratheametals is the Western world’s best hope for rebuilding the magnesium metal supply base. A magical afternoon learning from @biglithium, as they turn seawater into metal (making metal without mining).
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We are looking for a hospitality-minded human to help @cyantist, @ariellezuck, @LeeJacobs and I build a home for the magically weird @LongJourneyVC. Bonus points if you're "proficient" in pop-up barbershops, chicken coops, & epic dinner experiences. Role: bit.ly/magicallyweird
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I host (along with @cyantist, @LeeJacobs, @jwmares, @ariellezuck) a Charity Poker Tournament in SF in Dec (3rd annual!). We support a program that gives out $2k grants to high-potential young minds to build something. Who would be fun to sit and play with at a poker table?
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Growing up, my mom always insisted on making roast duck (because it was juicier) instead of turkey on Thanksgiving. She paired it with a Chinese sausage sticky rice stuffing (cooked inside of the duck). It was magical. Now I do the same. Curious how traditions start and continue.
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Launching @MinervaSchools in Buenos Aires with our Class of 2019, staff, civic partners from Google to Mercado Libre to Telefonica! #onwards
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Your employee experience matters. Grateful to @firstround for inviting @KelseyMellard and I to share our framework for designing an intentional offsite and facilitating a structure for belonging within a company. bit.ly/offsitedesign
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Hoyas win. Hoyas win. Hoyas win. Congrats @CoachEwing33 on your first win as head coach. #hoyasaxa
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En route to Hyderabad to build out @MinervaSchools and also for #GES2017. Excited to learn from this global entrepreneurship community. #onwards
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Spent a night in a room full of hope.
Cold calling for @mtclai running for the SF DCCC 3/5 tonight was a really fun experience! I’ve never seen so many ppl care about SF politics and a lot it is bc of Michael 🙌 LFG 🔥@willhoughteling @andyrapista @zmwang @elegantunivers9 @nhoughte @daytimeskye @mtclai Fong wa Dennis
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Despite having been clocked in the face and robbed of his master key and mail not once, but several times, our mailman still comes back to the job, has a warm smile when we say hello, cares about us getting us our mail. On top of it all, his mail truck just got tagged. It breaks my heart to see this in Oakland; I admire his toughness.
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Can't believe our Class of 2019 @MinervaSchools is 50% of the way to graduation. Two monstrous years coming up. Proud of our team. #onwards
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I can feel my mind rationalizing with my heart. As the son of two Chinese immigrants I was taught to accept the environment and just outwork/out-hustle the injustice. But NO. I cannot accept these hate crimes. I feel sad, confused, scared, angry. #EnoughIsEnough #StopAsianHate
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Thrilled (and nervous) to have the opportunity to share my story @TheMoth San Francisco: GrandSLAM Championship this Friday. What is the best advice you've gotten when preparing for a toast/presentation? themoth.org/events/grandslam…
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The "intentional engine that could." I remember joining Minerva Schools at KGI before we had students. Inspired to see Minerva University come into existence in just 10 yrs. Certificates/CBC courses v. degrees + credits. It's not either-or, but both-and. insidehighered.com/news/2021…
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Hot streak at the table with @cyantist! She is chip leader, 3 hours in, playing against Phil Helmuth, Ninja, Steve Aoki. She says she is an amateur player… but is there a hustle happening?
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Good events transport you to new worlds — like going through the warp pipe in Super Mario Brothers.
The "secret sauce" is balancing of curation and chaos (like balancing acid and fat in cooking).
Curation = the structured experience. A whimsical movie theater, a movie - "The Matrix" that makes you think more deeply, +80 nerdy humans who want to talk about free will / fate, pre-film + post-film prompts to foster conversation, warm cookies baked by "the Oracle."
Chaos = moments that invite "choice" and "involvement" within the experience. Like being a passenger and suddenly being asked to grab the wheel. There were 3 moments in the night where random attendees had a chance to go on side quests and do something expected (e.g. anyone could have answered the ringing phone that @AndrewMayne chose to pick up). Any of these could have gone "wrong" because we gave up some control of the experience to allow for "chaos" (or "serendipity").
This was fun.
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I sat next to @Mtclai for 3 years as we helped build a new college. I saw 3 things in him: 1) grit & persistence to build something for good, 2) integrity, 3) ingenuity — to come up with new ideas. Can't wait to see you bring these talents to District 11 ten years later. Onwards!
Last weekend, I gathered with 200+ family, friends, & neighbors to make an announcement.
An announcement rooted in my family's story, and the story of so many immigrant families who moved to the US to seek a better life.
I'm running for the SF Board of Supervisors this Nov! 🧵
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We have 9 seats (1 table) remaining for a Charity Poker Tournament that @cyantist, @jwmares, @PhilNoLimits, and I are organizing. The charity gives $2k grants to <25 year olds and challenges them to pursue their curiosity on a topic area. Who are should we invite to play?
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Congrats @DanPorterfield on all you have done at Franklin & Marshall and am so excited for your future @AspenInstitute. Could not imagine a better fit for the next chapter in your journey. #whyitworks #onwards
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I could talk about @MinervaSchools all day. Learning & sharing on delivering city as a campus w/ @GenslerOnCities.
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We (@cyantist, @LeeJacobs, @ariellezuck & I) are hosting another pop-up tomorrow for "Weird Wednesday." A Sci-Fi Theater on the theme of "fate." We'll be screening The Matrix and nerding out around its philosophy and of course, "Easter eggs". Reply below, if interested (We had to get a bigger theater, so have some spots now available!).
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A conversation on universal basic income w/ @JBidadanure, @sama, @chrishughes and @nataliefoster. #povertytech
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I believe the bamboo steamer basket is the most underrated item in the U.S. home kitchen. It enables you to cook 1) at scale (stackable levels) 2) a diversity of foods from veggies to fish to dumpling-like foods to even meats, 3) more healthfully (no oil), 4) with easy cleanup.
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What movies make you think differently about time and free will? For June's Weird Wednesday, we're prototyping a "Sci-Fi Club" (like a book club but with a film + nerdy discussion) & hosting our first screenings tonight. Here are the movies (and snacks) +100 people recommended...
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What is a mind-bending, sci-fi movie that everyone should watch? @LeeJacobs, @cyantist, @ariellezuck and I are designing a Sci-Fi "Drive-In" Theater in June (bringing nerds together to watch sci-film films around the theme of "free will"). Would you choose to come?
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Living in Healdsburg @JoinEdgeCity for the weekend. There is something magical about a well-designed “experiential container” - you can feel the community interact in a more “heart open” way and show up from a place of “trust”. Like a mashup of a college campus and a family reunion. Bravo @JanineLeger & team!
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Wednesdays just got weirder.
My wife @rushbhatia and I went to an event tonight in downtown San Francisco put on by @LongJourneyVC where they’re showing The Matrix.
The event is called "Weird Wednesdays". We had no idea how weird it could get...
Before the movie they ask the audience to have a conversation with the person next to them about fate.
My wife, Rush, explains to me her thoughts on what it means to be an NPC and it had me thinking.
The movie begins and Rush and I are drawn in.
Suddenly...in the middle of the movie when the phone rings on screen the movie stops.
A real phone on stage at the front of the theater starts to ring…
I look around to see if someone is going to answer it.
Nope.
Inspired by my wife's conversation I get up and answer the phone.
A person on the other end of the phone (@cyantist) says “There’s a red pill and a blue pill. Take the blue pill and you can sit down and enjoy the rest of the movie. Take the red pill and walk out of the theater…”
I ask if I can bring my wife…
“Yes.”
I take the red pill.
We go into the lobby and Cyan and Scott Bannister are in full Matrix attire waiting.
We have no idea what is happening.
We get into an SUV with them and drive away from the theater. I'm still holding onto my Red Vines and Rush has her coffee cup and popcorn.
The conversation is pleasant, but Rush and I don't have a clue about what happens next.
Things are a bit surreal.
I don't think they want our kidneys...
We enter Chinatown and go down the kind of street where you can buy a Mogwai if you know where to look.
We pass a real estate office with a sign that says "NPC Real Estate." A coincidence, but a very on the nose one.
We get out of the SUV and on the other side of the street is a pop-up Michelin star restaurant.
We go inside and get to have once-in-a-lifetime Chinese Mexican cuisine.
But even more amazing, we spend the next several hours having a wonderful discussion about fate and free will with Cyan and Scott.
It all felt a bit out of body. At one point I turned to Rush and explained I couldn't wait to tell her about the crazy dream I was having when I wake up tomorrow.
Thank you @cyantist and Scott. Thank you to @zmwang for arranging the event and thank you @lukeeqin for the invite that started it all.
Always take the red pill. Answer the phone. And bring your wife for backup just in case...
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Proud of our students @MinervaSchools for leading a summit on Active + Experiential Learning @SXSWEDU. Catalyzed meaningful intergenerational conversations (and hopefully action).#sxswedu
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So much excitement for our new faculty @MinervaSchools. Sneak peek into All Hands. See you at #FoundationWeek!
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Hello, nice to "see you" Class of 2021 @MinervaSchools. Cannot believe we have two cohorts now. #dunbar #851cohort
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The facilitators of the facilitators… some of the magical human@JoinEdgeCity that create the container for vibes and experiences to come to fruition. @JanineLeger, @ansonyuu, and Allison! So much art (vs science) that goes into the manifestation of a community and organic connection.
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Insane day to be watching @FiveThirtyEight live podcast with @NateSilver538. #BrexitOrNot and the 2016 Election.
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Grateful for the hilarious @rideChariot drivers who drove our @MinervaSchools students to our university offsite.
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Hosted a dinner for our @MinervaSchools students who can't go home for the holidays. From our family to yours.
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The December 9. An epic final table for our 2nd Annual Inflection Grants Poker Tournament, co-hosted by @cyantist & @jwmares. Daps to our 2023 champion: @PhilNoLimits. Winning hand: A5 offsuit against @andysacks. We raised $31k to help young humans facing a life inflection point.
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My cat Ender giving his best "take me with you" face. My @Everlane Weekender bag fits 3 shirts, 2 slacks, 3 socks, and 1 hopeful little guy.
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Planning begins for our summit @SxSWedu. The design team — young minds in @MinervaSchools Class of 2021 — let the work begin. #SXSWedu
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If we could give the same facelift to minivans as “sprinter vans” got… minivans would have a comeback.
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We are a human university @MinervaSchools (not just critically thinking, intellectual robots). Bringing a little bit of San Francisco to Seoul.
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Wow @BintiFamily's @FeliciaCurcuru talks about building TurboTax for foster parenting app process. #stir2016 #impinv
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Our @MinervaSchools students won Most Original Inventive UX/UI at the Samsung hackathon. #letsgo #calltheplay
Creative colors were flying at #Hack4B2B. 🎉 The Most Original/Inventive UX/UI goes to team “SHS” with Ahmed Kamel, Bani Singh, Yunfan Yang and Anirudh Nair.
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En route back to SF from Berlin. Our @MinervaSchools students are growing from just 1 city. BA you're next. A moment w/ our Founding Class:
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It's been so long since last we met. Here we go @GeorgetownHoops. Omaha bound. Hoya Saxa @GUAlumni @CasualHoya @GUStonewalls #BeatCreighton
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Tomorrow our Class of 2021 +200 students from +60 countries will arrive in SF to begin their first day of college at Minerva. 🔥 #MinervaFW17
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1 more month until Buenos Aires launches @MinervaSchools. Incredible city. Much to learn abt its ethos, institutions, evolution. #MinervaSXP
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Ender is almost as excited as I am to cook a Feast for our admitted students in the Class of 2022 @MinervaSchools. Can't wait. 8-hour chicken broth, here we go.
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P.S. Must be willing to roll dice and improv on stage with @cyantist and I.
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Learning about #whyitworks & how to think like a transformational college president from @DanPorterfield. @GUAlumni nerding out. #hoyasaxa
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Want to meet educators and bond over active learning + design and a secret marshmallow+pasta challenge? Join our summit co-designed by students in the Class of 2021@MinervaSchools tomorrow at #sxswedu from 3-6PM. schedule.sxswedu.com/2018/ev…
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Here is the statement made by @Georgetown's President DeGioia. Proud to be an immigrant @GUAlumni today.
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A dangerous combo of minds, young + "old"/seasoned. Dr. @neiltyson + our @MinervaSchools students. Here's to critical thinking + science.
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Learning how to create a libretto @SFOpera w/ our @MinervaSchools students for our Makers & Creators co-curricular.
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I believe. I believe that. I believe that we will WIN. #HoyaSaxa @GUAlumni. Great piece in @CasualHoya why: bit.ly/1FanXLq #BeatEWU
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Our @MinervaSchools students kickoff our civic project today w/ @SFMOCI to design for a cleaner & safer city. #MinervaSXP #impinv
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Proud to be a part of an evidence-based, outcomes-driven university @MinervaSchools. Now, our test results prove it: medium.com/minerva-schools/m…
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They have arrived. The first students in the #FoundingClass @MinervaSchools. Here. We. Go. MT @Haziq_Azizis @zoeyhaar
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We cook @MinervaSchools. Prepping pork belly for made from scratch ramen for our students. Inspired by @TheFoodLab!
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Dreaming up big ideas w/ @SoyJovenArg & @camicrescimbeni (National Director of Youth). Can't wait to launch @MinervaSchools in Buenos Aires!
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"Boy don't you act like you hit a triple, when you were born on third base" @CoryBooker quoting his dad. @INFORUMsf
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A glimpse into our @MinervaSchools Launch Day for our students driven communities. So many firsts. Ideas to action.
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🙏 @dybrkr's Mustafa, @INFORUMsf's Marisa, @SofarSoundsSF's @deandavismusic, @CookhouseSF's Jen for inspiring our @MinervaSchools students!
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A 6 word story: Investor turned art-student, now empowering creatives.
Onwards @weberwongwong!
A year ago I left VC to go to art school.
Today I’m excited to announce FLORA (@floraai), an AI creative systems startup. We’re backed by @LongJourneyVC & @MenloVentures.
I'm live-streaming my life in real-time AI for 2 weeks on our landing page to demo what FLORA can do.
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When your @MinervaSchools students make you a meme of yourself for your 30th bday. MT @BiRiteCreamery @NiceLaundry.
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What happens when Malcolm @Gladwell stops into one of your @MinervaSchools seminar classes. Reactions are priceless.
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T-10 days to Year 3 @MinervaSchools. Our #MinervaFW16 team can't wait to welcome the Class of 2020. #onwards
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Year 4 @MinervaSchools begins. Welcome #Classof2021. Seems like yesterday we were nervously welcoming our Founding Class of 28 students.
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Come to our #SxSWedu panel w/ Presidents @DanPorterfield @sean_decatur @presmccartney on the future of liberal arts! schedule.sxswedu.com/events/…
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During Foundation Week, Our @MinervaSchools Class of 2021 met #JackHirschman, Poet Laureate of SF & one of the voices of the Beat Generation
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Exploring what it means to be a citizen with @MinervaSchools & @ACLU_NorCal. Citizenship as participation.
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Saying we are inspired today, would be an understatement. Thank you @JIMSEDU, @SonalRShah, @rec54. #MyBrothersKeeper Data Jam.
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Our students designed this interactive exhibit for @CoryBooker's INFORUM talk. @AdamMGrant get excited, you're next!
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I designed a bagel blind tasting to determine what my friends value in a “good bagel.”
Here are the 4 design considerations I used to create the experience (so you can host your own!):
1) bagel shop curation
2) # (and type) of bagels
3) bagel preparation
4) rubric / assessment
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P.S. To nerd out more on "how magnesium can do for metal what solar did for energy": lightmetalage.com/news/indus…
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When your @MinervaSchools students launch the @Duolingo Games to do language prep for Berlin & Buenos Aires '16-'17.
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Our @MinervaSchools students just left #SxStudents panel because they have to go to class. Active learning. #cityasacampus #MinervaLife
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Love this data visualization shared by @gatesed about what the future "college student" might look like. MT @willhoughteling
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Our @MinervaSchools Class of 2021 > your Class of 2021. :) #minervafw17 #onwards #calltheplay #classof2021
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Pumped to nerd out at @chrislehmann, @jcasap, & @dlaufenberg's #SxSWedu panel on inquiry-based learning / schools! schedule.sxswedu.com/events/…
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Can't wait for @JahanaHayes' @SXSWedu panel on community-based / service-based learning. Woot! #nerdtime #SxSWedu schedule.sxswedu.com/events/…
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How do you prepare the workforce for jobs that don't exist yet? Send @SonalRShah, @DanPorterfield, & I to #SxSW: bit.ly/2b1vu6a!
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