I want to share something with you guys today. It's not something that came to me all at once. It took me years, years of change, years of tribulations.Here it is. Belonging isn't a place. It's something you carry.Now, how could this be true. Right. Because when people think of belonging, they think of a home. They think of a city. They think of a group of friends.They think of a community. But what if you never stayed in one place long enough to find those things. It's my story.I was 13 years old standing ...

[Music] [Applause] My mom was the first person I'd share big news with. She was my first call before every big decision. And she was there for my first steps, my first heartbreak, my first job. She was my first friend.And when she died, I didn't just lose my person. I lost my anchor, my compass. And with her went something I didn't expect to lose, my sense of safety in the world.A few days before she died, she asked me to sit with her. And I can still see her sweet smile in that moment when she said, "Honey ...

What is identity. Is it about place, language, culture. Are we born into it or do we choose it.What is it about places that we love that makes who we are. My earliest memories are about backyard parties in Baghdad. I was born to a large family in North Iraq.I came into a life that my parents had made. I remember going to the desert in spring to eat dolma, watch the quail run around and the wild flowers. And in the summer when it got so hot, we'd run to the mountains and sit in the cool air and the breezes.T ...

Core Argument - The fundamental human need for connection and belonging should be a central consideration in architectural and urban design [1][4] - Design choices, from microspaces like living rooms to macrospaces like cities, significantly influence human interaction and feelings of belonging [10][11] - Design is not neutral; it actively shapes human behavior and emotions, either fostering connection or creating barriers [22][23] Design Implications - Microspaces should be designed to encourage interaction, exemplified by the common arrangement of a three-seater couch facing the television [6] - Macrospaces, such as cities, should prioritize communal areas like parks and accessible transportation networks to facilitate connection [8][20] - Urban design should focus on creating spaces that evoke feelings of safety, invitation, and visibility, moving beyond mere traffic flow [18][19] Examples and Illustrations - Traditional architecture and communal living arrangements demonstrate the innate human desire for connection [4][9] - The design of guest rooms can subtly discourage or encourage interaction, highlighting the power of design to influence behavior [12][13] - Examples from literature, like Romeo and Juliet's balcony scene, illustrate how architectural elements can enable and shape human relationships [17][18]

[Music] Welcome Fala. Welcome to the TEDex stage. Happy to have you here. >> Happy to be here.>> Right. So u I was introduced to your comics at uh an indie comics fest in Bangalore I think and uh it was really surprising cuz I picked it up and I didn't expect it to be so funny. Right.So I'm sure everybody here would love to hear a lot more about your comics, your creation process. So let's get into it. So um in your comics you uh the themes that mainly stand out to me are identity, faith, belonging.So how d ...

Burnout & Disconnection - The presentation addresses the pervasive issue of burnout, particularly affecting younger generations, with 68% of Gen Z and 61% of millennials feeling the need to change their jobs or lifestyles [5] - The presentation highlights the feeling of disconnection and loneliness in a hyper-connected world, noting that 24% of adults worldwide often feel very lonely [13][14] Personal Growth & Connection - The presentation emphasizes that real growth often comes from pushing oneself outside of one's comfort zone, even when it feels scary or uncomfortable [15] - The presentation suggests that connection is not about geography but about resonance, finding people who mirror parts of oneself [19] - The presentation advocates for shifting the focus from finding where one belongs to how one can belong to oneself right now [23] Overcoming Challenges - The presentation shares a personal experience of moving to Japan and facing challenges such as language barriers and culture shock, leading to feelings of disconnection [7][8] - The presentation illustrates how small, everyday moments and choices can create a sense of home and connection, even in unfamiliar environments [24]

[Music] [Applause] When the lights turned off, the crowd erupted into screams and sobs. The dancers and band took their places on stage. People frantically pulled out their cameras while others decided to live in the moment. The concert was at Sofi Stadium with its open roof letting in the cool night air. The smell of popcorn and nachos filled my senses. The stage lights flashed on temporarily blinding me. My mom was filming me, which at the time annoyed me. But looking back, I'm glad that she did. And then ...

Identity & Belonging - The core message revolves around the distinction between fitting in and belonging, highlighting that fitting in requires sacrificing individuality, while belonging embraces uniqueness [4][5] - The narrative explores the speaker's personal experiences with "NFI syndrome" (Not Fitting In syndrome), a feeling of not perfectly fitting into societal expectations [9][11] - The speaker emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and inner validation over seeking external approval, stating that true belonging comes from within [20][26] Cultural & Societal Expectations - The speaker recounts experiences of being rejected by both mainstream society and her own Latino culture due to not conforming to their respective expectations [13][17][18] - The talk addresses the impact of negative stereotypes and societal pressures on one's sense of identity and belonging [14][21] - The speaker encourages listeners to reject negative labels and embrace their authentic selves, regardless of external opinions [23][24] Personal Growth & Resilience - The speaker's journey involves overcoming feelings of insecurity and alienation to develop a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence [19][27] - The narrative highlights the transformative power of self-discovery and the realization that one's identity is defined by personal experiences, faith, and culture [28][29] - The speaker advocates for embracing one's unique qualities and entering spaces with confidence, knowing that they are meant to be there as individuals [26]

From a very young age, the word papers echoed through my household, a term that only brought confusion to my mind. I would think to myself, there's blank white paper in the basement. But as I grew older, the weight of that word started to sink in.It wasn't about literal sheets of paper. It was about a sense of belonging, about legal recognition, and ultimately the future of my family. Most of my childhood was spent sitting in immigration offices.The details of those places still vivid. The musky scent of ol ...

Diversity & Inclusion (DEIB) Initiatives - The organization emphasizes that diversity is a strength, fostering synergy and resonance through differences [1] - The organization shifted from formal to non-formal, flexible education through open schooling and distance learning [11][12] - The organization adapted teaching methods to suit individual learning styles, incorporating music, dance, and theater [14] - The organization built ramps, railings, and accessible toilets, benefiting not only students with disabilities but also the broader community [16][17] - The organization redefined success by supporting a student with Duchene's muscular dystrophy to achieve academic excellence and become head boy [18][19][20][22] - The organization embraced diversity in all aspects, including language, region, ability, gender, and socioeconomic background [26] Community & Culture - The organization instilled a sense of belonging, with students and teachers redefining triumph through inclusion [27] - The organization created a community where everyone is a success, emphasizing individual success contributing to a collective achievement [43][44] - The organization fostered empathy, experienced and shared among students, becoming a culture [25] - The organization changed its vision to focus on strengths-based inclusion, teamwork, and bringing the marginalized to the mainstream [35][36]