 Welcome to Perspectives on Global Justice in Pekawa'i. This is your host, Beatrice Cantomo. For today's episode, we are graced with a very special guest, Anne Webber. When I think of women of great influence and who have the gift of inspiring others to do good things, I think of her. Anne is a teacher and also community director of Impact Hub Honolulu. We'll hear her perspectives on what it means to lead with Aloha, the importance of what it means to do good and well in our work, in our community and with each other. And of course, we will be talking about the implications of an interconnected and interdependent Hava'i to a global network such as Impact Hub. On that note, thank you and welcome. Thank you. It's great to be here. I am very excited to have you here. I know this is not your first time in our studio, but it's been a few years. So to give our viewers a little background about you, would you mind telling us a little bit of your upbringing? Were you raised and I know you're a teacher, so people can get a little flavor. Of course, of course. So I was raised in Los Angeles. I grew up in Historic West Adams, which if you're a USC fan, it's right there. I went to Loyola Marymount University. So I actually, I was raised at Jesuit schools through my whole education. And so this idea of service in education is incredibly important. It always has been in my life. So after I graduated from university, I was working, you know, I had a job after college and I was so excited, but it wasn't meaningful. I wasn't helping anyone that really needed it. And so that's how I came into education. So my parents were both educators. They were both public school educators in the University of LA. And I always knew the value of education. They would always communicate that to me. And I knew that that was a way that I could really give back. Right. Make such an impactful difference in people's lives. Yeah. So I joined Teach for America in 2013 and taught out at Ma'ili Elementary in Waianae for four years, third grade. Is that what brought you to Hawaii? It is. Amazing. So Teach for America in Hawaii. And what was your perspective of Hawaii before you moved here? And now almost six years later? Yeah, I had I had never visited before. So I agreed to move absolutely knowing nothing beyond the research I had done. And I knew that I wanted to teach on the Leeward Coast. I'm Native American. I'm Cherokee and Choctaw. So I thought I knew that I wanted to be in an area that was rural, serving an underserved community. And I loved it. It was the perfect match. I learned so much. And you served. And that is an area that I think Hawaii really needs a lot of additional booster and help with, which is our educational system. And so grateful that you have landed on this island with that kind of ticket. Yeah. But I'm grateful to have been in the position as well. So I mean, I'm no one's savior by any means. So it was just a meaningful way for me to serve. Which grades did you teach? I taught third grade. Oh, third grade. They're great grades. It's a wonderful age. They're intellectual. They can have conversations. But you know, I'm not an old lady yet. So they still liked me. Hey, old ladies can be really hip and cool as teachers too. Well, they didn't see me of that yet. That's a good thing, you know. So, okay. So from being a teacher to community director of Impact Hub, tell us about that transition. And also to our viewers who don't know what Impact Hub is, just give it a little blur. But you know, what is amazing place is all about. So Impact Hub Honolulu is a place where you can do good and do well. We have co-working space, which is a collaborative workspace. We have offices. We have meeting rooms. We have event space. But in essence, we're a community space for social impact. So you can come in. You can be with a motivated and productive community. You can get your work done. And you can hopefully learn a little bit in the meantime. That's what I'm really passionate about the education side because it shouldn't end after school. So we were talking about the social impact of Impact Hub. Not only for the community, but for the state at large. But also if we think in terms of micro perspective, because Impact Hub is all over the world, right? And how do you see all of that walking together, you know, not only for our members, but for the community who are not members here, but also in this microcosm that we call, you know, with Impact Hub being spread out, you know, so many different places. It's really like Teach for America. It's a global organization with very ambitious vision. So the idea of everyone's working locally and trans-locally to make social impact happen. And that can be felt globally. So that's the way that we focus our work, is we want to make an impact in our community, in our local community throughout the state. Our vision is to connect all of the islands so that we can be a real beacon of a lot of the examples of Impact that we have here. Hawaii is doing incredible things in climate justice, in education. And most of the stories you hear, unfortunately, are the negative sides of that. But I think that we also have the opportunity to be leaders in that front. And I'm sure lots of people would agree with that as well. So we're not working alone. And it's very easy to feel isolated. You know, I can attest to the power of a believer of Impact Hub because I've been a member since I moved here. And actually my first friends, you know, were made in Hawaii through Impact Hub community. And it used to be in a different location and right across the street from Kakaako Park. And I did a lot of work with house-less families and children. And I will never forget the part of Social Impact that Impact Hub at the time had in the lives of these children, not only in terms of opening spaces for them to come in, when the space was not being utilized by members to welcome people who traditionally have their doors shut for them all the time, but also the part of right before Christmas to open the doors. I was there for that. Yeah, and we saw so many children walking with their parents. It was like over 40 people. To watch a movie, eat popcorn and just a regular meal and just have a sense of normalcy and belonging. That really was very impactful. I think, you know, not only to me as a servant leader, but as a member of Impact Hub, but in this community. And I think the most beautiful thing about it is that it happened, it did not make the news. It was just a normal thing to do, you know. It was really beautiful. And there's so many other things too, like people connecting and helping each other. There's so many beautiful stories. So in terms of, you know, your vision right now with Impact Hub, what are you all working with? Like which direction does Impact Hub Honolulu is taking with regards to social justice and service? Sure, I'll tell you a story that starts with the first time I went to the Impact Hub Global Gathering this past year. So it was in Montreal, and I had the pleasure of meeting all of the other North American makers as well. So this was my first interaction with Global. And one of the stories that was shared was from Impact Hub Oakland, where they're doing a lot of work in houselessness as well. And that's an issue here locally. Or it's something that invites solutions. The term that David, the founder there used, was they're trying to cultivate in their community a sense of radical belonging. So for people that, you know, typically don't even get your attention, it's important to bring them into solving problems. So I think that that's what really sets us apart. Every Saturday we are involved in a cleanup at Kakaako Waterfront Park. So it's the only, the point of the cleanup is obviously to beautify the park, but also to just build community. Yes, exposure. We're neighbors. We're all part of the same community. And if you can just build those relationships and humanize and bring people together over a meal, then I think that anything can really be built from there. That's how you really come up with solutions. When you have respect there, when you have relationships, when you can listen to each other and not just, you know, solve a problem to someone or at someone, but with someone. Yes, absolutely. And I think like when you're talking about social impact and the importance of interconnectedness in this process, it's quite crucial to make it happen. But also for the sustainability of it, and where everybody is an equal partner and community builder and solution-oriented. It's not us, it's them, no hand-downs, you know. It's somewhat equalized, I think, level, not only of thinking, but of leading also. And like, you know, I've been in Hawaii for almost five years now. And one of the things I feel that we need more spaces where and if you really want to change Hawaii, you're going to have to really work together and recognize and do things where the most vulnerable are, you know, not only seeing, but dealt with the proper reverence and value and care that it deserves. So I know the homelessness is one of the many issues, you know, we know about education, health, and so forth. So are there any events in our community as Impact Hub that's going on that are addressing and inviting the community to be a part of this knowledge and of this movement? Thank you for asking. So a lot of the programs that we put on as Impact Hub are to increase impact throughout the community, but also to increase education. So a couple of the upcoming programs we have, one of them is called Oceans, the Human Impact, and that's going to be on April 11th in the evening. And it's a free talk story between Paul LeCompt, who his brother swam from Japan to Honolulu, and every three minutes saw microplastics on his swim. So it's, he's going to share that journey and also a message about, you know, what the plastics are actually doing to our ocean. And Dan Kinzer, who is a National Geographic Educator Fellow who got the opportunity to go down to Antarctica and see exactly what's happening with the Polar Ice Caps. So having these, or with the Antarctic Ice Caps, excuse me, so having these two, these two stories alongside of each other and then them having conversation with each other. That's one of the upcoming events. And so that's going to be all around climate justice. And then the next one is a partnership that we have with PBS Hawaii. It's called Indie Lens Pop-Up. And these are films, there's a series of six films, but we have, the next one is going to be Won't You Be My Neighbor, Mr. Rogers. I don't know if you watch. Of course, you know, my kid is 24 years old now, totally more like, super big fans of Mr. Rogers. Yeah, so this one, it's a free film, but the whole point of watching the film is to then have conversation about the film. And the theme of this year is perfect for what we've been talking about, because it's all about being a good neighbor. Yeah, we'll constitute a good neighbor, you know, and what is our role as neighbors, and how do we make a better? Exactly. That's really great. We need to take a minute break. We'll be right back on this. Hey, Loja. My name is Andrew Lanning. I'm the host of Security Matters Hawaii, airing every Wednesday here on Think Tech Hawaii, live from the studios. I'll bring you guests. I'll bring you information about the things in security that matter to keeping you safe, your co-workers safe, your family safe, to keep our community safe. We want to teach you about those things in our industry that, you know, may be a little outside of your experience. So please join me, because security matters. Aloha. Aloha and Mabuhay. My name is Amy Ortega Anderson, inviting you to join us every Tuesday here on Pinoy Power Hawaii. With Think Tech Hawaii, we come to your home at 12 noon every Tuesday. We invite you to listen, watch for our mission of empowerment. We aim to enrich, enlighten, educate, entertain, and we hope to empower. Again, Maraming, Salamat Po, Mabuhay, and Aloha. Welcome back to Perspectives on Global Justice, Think Tech Hawaii. This is your host, Beatrice Contavo, and we are here with Anne Wehboham. So, Anne, so we were talking about the next lens series with... With PBS Hawaii. With PBS Hawaii, yes. The indie lens pop-up films are all about getting people together to watch a film and talk about social justice issues following the film. So all of them are linked by this theme of being a good neighbor. But what is our relationship in that? What is our responsibility as a neighbor? Not just in receiving, but in also giving. And fostering, you know, in strengthening relationships, too, or engaging. So I'm really excited about that. But in terms of... Those are just a couple of the events that we have, and you can see the full list on impacthubhnel.com. We have multiple events a week. Some of them are Amnesty International films, so we're happy to partner with all types of local organizations because we want to be that community space where all are welcome, where you feel like you belong, and you can also have a really productive, motivated community of people if you weren't done. Because I think a lot stems from exposure and education. I mean, you can create a grassroots movement and a sense of deep investment in civic engagement. You don't feel inspired, I would say, or if it doesn't hit your radar. And I think most people, I mean, they're so busy. They're walking, taking care of life, family, and having these opportunities, these glimpses, you know, where you go. Gee, you know, maybe there are more things I can do and adjust in my own daily life and invite my co-workers and friends to, you know, and family to think similarly, or at least to take some action, you know, makes a big difference. You were mentioning about social justice being one of the cornerstones of what Impact Hub stands for all over the globe on here in Hawaii. So what are the plans for Hawaii and the upcoming years, perhaps? I don't know if you guys have a vision for five years or 10 years or whatever time it is. So all of the Impact Hubs are joined in a commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. These are 17 very ambitious goals by 2030. So we're getting closer and closer to that mark. And so as we have been progressing toward them, we've been focusing a lot on education, sustainability, and also technology. We think that those are three very interrelated and also very important for Hawaii. Absolutely. So in terms of sustainability, what are the areas that your members and community partners in their lives are looking at? So it's not just environmental sustainability, which I think is, you know, making, it's huge here. It's very important to any island. But also sustainability as a community. So resilience. How are we, you know, ensuring that our communities are growing responsibly and that we're allocating resources responsibly as well? But what I was... So compatibility is a big part of this process too. Exactly. So we're hoping by the end of this year to have the first voluntary local review in Hawaii for the UN SDGs. So we've convened a working group of different organizations that are working around the SDGs to really think about how do we let the public know what's going on? What are these goals? Because as a teacher, I know that if you don't tell someone what the goal is, then they're not going to know to work towards it. Exactly. And 2030 is really around the corner. It is. It goes like a noobling governor eye. So we've been doing programs around like sharing the local successes and then that's all building toward programs about, okay, so where are we at in terms of all of the goals? Where do we need to focus our energy? Where are the opportunities? Exactly. And so that's really exciting. And I like that approach too. I just came back from a shared leadership retreat through MNIST International USA in Washington D.C. February and that we had people from all over the country coming together to work with vision and mission, you know, for MNIST in the upcoming five, 10 years. And we already know the problems. And I think it's important to, you know, give its proper value in space to it. But so much of the energy is a lot of time stagnant or it stops there, you know, that there has to be more of this movement of what is the vision? And let's dream outside the box. Let's dream as if there are no barriers. And let's come up with plans based on that. And then you walk out with the constraints and then with the elimination of the constraints too, you know. You're absolutely talking my language. I think it's the- That's why we're good friends. The educator and me loves this idea of like, okay, we have these ambitious goals. What's the roadmap? How are we going to get there? As a team, we've been thinking a lot about our mission and vision. And that's something that we look at every single year. Is it still true to where we're headed? And our goals are the actual actions in alignment with that mission that we want to create. So we recently updated it. It's to connect, inspire, and engage to make the world a better place. It's very broad. So we were torn between like, how do we make it specific enough, but also broad enough to give it the room that it needs. But the idea there is that one of the actions for that is we need to have a network of impact hubs that are accessible all over the state of Hawaii. So that it's not just you're in town, you have access to this community. I think it's not so Honolulu century. Right, exactly. And everything happens so much here. This is so beautiful that you are having this vision of expanding and making it more accessible. So are there any plans for growth and expansion in different parts of the island, or perhaps older islands across the state? Absolutely. So we're hoping for three more spaces on Oahu within the next year or so. And then also the plans are to expand to other islands as well because we can learn a lot from the other islands. And I mean, just imagine what could be possible if we really truly did have a community that was connected like that. So it doesn't matter where you are. It doesn't matter, you know, if you're flying to another island, you still have your people, your community. And every island has its own beat and stories. And, you know, I travel a lot for work. And it's quite night and day difference between, for example, here, Moloka'ila, Na'i, Maui, Kauai, even the weather. Big islands. So, you know, but we do need those differences and that kind of diversity to make it truly inclusive. Absolutely. That's what's kind of awesome about the Impact Hub Global Network as well, is they're all independently owned and operated. So you walk into, unlike a lot of the larger co-working chains, you walk into one and it's going to be exactly the same, whether you're in Atlanta, whether you're in LA, whether you're in Berlin, you know what you're going to get. But with an Impact Hub, you're very locally based. So you walk in and you, it's going to be the flavor of the place and the community and the people because it's the people that are making the place. It's not the walls. It's not the space. It's the people that are there talking with each other. How do you get, you know, that beat? It's really nice. Like, when I travel to a different state, I always make a point of visiting a local Impact Hub and just get that feel. You know, it's instant ohana. Yeah, exactly. You know, it's a great way to connect this way. And I also think, you know, that in terms of entrepreneurship opportunities, you know, cool walking spaces is the way to go, not only from a cost efficient, you know, sustainable way of being able to even dream of doing something as an entrepreneur, but also that part of collaborative efforts and those connections that stem from being a part of, you know, this kind of environment. Do you have any like stories, like favorite stories that you'd like to share? Well, one of my favorites is you and Isoai. But that just speaks to the unexpected collaboration that you can see. And it's really beautiful. So yeah, I'll tell you a little bit about it. Yeah, I did know he was just gazing through the window. You know, you could see he was really troubled that day. And I had no idea what he was walking on there. What the challenges were. I said, what's going on there? You know, you're very pensive. And he's like, yeah, I'm thinking about how this, you know, ice business is going to, you know, flow and I don't have many connections out there in the community. And those that I had is just not flowing. You know, as we started brainstorming, like I wanted to learn where he's been and those that he had knocked and the nose and the barriers and all of that. And then they just downed it to me. I said, you know, how about the fishing industry in parks? You know, he's like, oh, I guess I didn't think about that. And so I connected him with then Dean, Dean Sensui, who is a wonderful cinematographer. And I said, he connects really well with the fishing industry. Why don't you go talk about ride with him and see what happens. I guess you can finalize what the end of the story was. Yeah, you gave him the introduction and he made it happen. Yeah. And now it's actually, what's awesome is that it's the ice machine, the ice business there and the Wainae Boat Harbor is like the water supply for Puhonua, Wainae. Yes. So there's a whole community there that gets to be served by this, this introduction. And I'm so happy about, because the older talk we had was, you know, think about the houseless communities and how they could benefit from having access to water, clean water supply, and ice. I wasn't quite sure about that. But I think, you know, it kind of, it kind of evolved very organically. Exactly. And now it's like, what's the next step, you know? Well, and that's the beauty of, you know, you take this idea of doing good and doing well and you can do both. They're not mutually exclusive. I think the old model was really, you know, you work really hard and you save all of your money, you do well in your business, and then maybe you'll be able to, you know, save enough money that you can give back to the community. But I think now we really want to share that message of, you can start now. It can be, you know, it's also- The wait until you're 67, you'll retire. Exactly. It's also very marketable. So if you're able to think about social impact as a way to grow your business, then I think that that mindset shift alone is what we're really trying to share with everyone. Because it doesn't have to be, you don't have to be a martyr to do well or to do good in the world. Or to have so much money, you know, I think the social capital is really the new currency of- Absolutely. You know, like a society that we want to see now that's more sustainable and equal, you know, and that thrives. Oh my darling, I can't believe the 30 minutes have flown by this quickly. So we are out of time. But thank you so much for granting us scenarios, you know, your presence and your lovely spirit and energy. Thank you so much for what you do for Impact Hub in our community. I hope to have your back as a, you know, guest many more times. We can get some members here to share. Oh, I would love that. You know, this is what this space is about. It is about an open platform where we get to talk about collective impact and social justice perspectives. And it can be from any part of the world, but we definitely want the flavor of Hawaii. And how much of Hawaii, you know, examples can be emulated in order to the world, too. So it is really about those bridges. So anyone who feels excited to come, you know, you're welcome to. All right, well, this concludes our episode of Perspectives in Global Justice. Thank you for today. Thank you so much, Avias, for watching us. And until next time,