Abstract:  
This month’s Voice of PSC speaker, Suleika Jaouad (pronounced Su-LAKE-uh Ja-WAD) is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, artist and advocate. She’s no stranger to the notion that there’s healing power and promise in shifting your mindset when life’s interruptions come along. She documented her odyssey of illness, healing and self-discovery in the New York Times bestselling memoir Between Two Kingdoms. After a cancer diagnosis at age 22 upended her career aspirations and nearly took her life, she began writing a New York Times column and video series called “Life, Interrupted.” It’s also the subject of her Voice of PSC talk on September 19, 2024.

Jaouad also created a weekly newsletter called Isolation Journals at the beginning of the pandemic to help others transform life’s interruptions into creative grist and community; it has over 170,000 subscribers from around the world and is one of the most popular publications on Substack. She and her husband, musician Jon Batiste, are the subjects of The Oscar-nominated Netflix documentary, “American Symphony,” a portrait of two artists during a year of extreme highs and lows that is also a meditation on art, love, and the creative process.

Abstract:  
How does an LGBTQ+ person develop a positive sense of self in a society that often views their LGBTQ+ identity as unexpected at best and deviant at worst? It’s a process. Understanding this process is essential for allies who want to support and affirm their LGBTQ+ friends, family members, students, and coworkers.

In August’s Voice of PSC event, “Coming Out as LGBTQ+: What Allies Need to Know,” our favorite Jeannie Gainsburg returns to help us gain a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ coming out process. She will also teach us how to be savvy allies who prioritize the safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals in our communities.

Jeannie founded Savvy Ally Action in 2018, a small business that provides engaging, accessible, and supportive workshops and videos on how to be an ally to LGBTQ+ communities. She has personally facilitated or co-facilitated nearly 1,000 trainings and workshops across more than 20 states, including two sessions at the Voice of PSC event.

Gainsburg shared additional resources with the PSC DEIA Council after her presentation.

Abstract:  
We may think of fun as frivolous, indulgent or non-serious, but according to Catherine Price, science journalist, ScreenLifeBalance.com founder, and author of The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again and How to Break Up with Your Phone, “True Fun” — which she defines as the magical confluence of playfulness, connection, and flow — is absolutely essential for a well lived and joyful life. It brings happiness, health, creativity, productivity, less resentfulness and less stress.

In her talk, Price will reveal the surprising mental, physical, and cognitive benefits of fun. She also will offer a realistic, evidence-based plan for how to achieve better screen/life balance and bring more fun into our daily lives—without feeling overwhelmed. 

In addition to being the inspiration for her TED talk, her book The Power of Funwas named to Amazon’s Best Books of the Month Pick, featured on Good Morning America and in Fortune, and named “…the book everyone needs to read in 2022,” by The Independent.

Abstract:  
We are dealing with a number of environmental challenges today, from sanitation inequality to climate change. In June’s Voice of PSC event, hosted by the Photon Sciences DEIA Council but open to everyone at Argonne, environmental justice leader Catherine Coleman Flowers will explain the timeline of historic challenges that have created the environmental disparities and issues that continue today, and what we can do individually and as country to change these inequities.

Flowers began by tackling the wastewater crisis happening in Lowndes County, Alabama, near her home, where 80% of residents lacked adequate access to working sewage systems. Named to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council in 2021, she helped drive a $50 million commitment from the administration to start to tackle the issue of inadequate waste and water sanitation infrastructure in rural U.S. communities. Her list of accomplishments is long, including highlights such as a 2020 MacArthur fellowship for Environmental Health Advocacy; co-chairmanship of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences Commission on Accelerating Climate Action; and board membership on the Natural Resources Defense Council, The Climate Reality Project, Center for Constitutional Rights and the American Geophysical Union.

Flowers has addressed the United Nations, the U.S. Congress, and now she’s coming to Argonne. Don’t miss your chance to learn from her!

Abstract:  
In any human endeavor, creativity is paramount in complex problem solving. This month’s Voice of PSC event, “Storytelling Across Class and Identity,” holds a special treat for anyone interested in how storytelling creates connections. Our speaker for this month’s event is Emmy-award winning screenwriter and director Lee Sung Ji

Lee is the creator of Netflix’s hit series “Beef.” He has done shows for FX, Amazon, and HBO. He is currently writing “Thunderbolts” for Marvel.

Drawing on his vast storytelling and personal experience, Lee unpacks how human nature leads us to project ideas onto people whom we don’t know and how to shift our focus to the empowering connections of shared experience that bridge divides and create community.

Abstract:

Does your team have high expectations? Are you keeping up with constant technological change? Lily Kriegs, the speaker for April’s Voice of PSC event, has some terrific advice for how to remain in balance in today’s fast-paced work culture. Kriegs is a burnout prevention coach who leverages scientific methodologies and personal insights to foster resilience, happiness, and a healthy work-life balance.

Her 24-year career in tech as a Mexican immigrant living in Germany were instrumental in helping her form a deep commitment to creating inclusive work environments where everyone feels valued and safe. 

You’ll come away from her talk with useful strategies and exercises you can use to manage stress and cultivate a resilient mindset.

• Lily @ LinkedIn 
• “Professor of Happiness”
• BerkeleyX Course
• Designing Your Work Life

Abstract:

This March, in recognition of Disability Awareness Month and our lab’s commitment to enhancing accessibility within the DEIA framework, the Voice of PSC is proud to present an inspiring session with Ezra Frech, a remarkable athlete and motivational speaker who embodies resilience, determination, and the power of embracing differences.

Born with congenital limb differences, Ezra has transcended physical limits with unparalleled determination. From setting national youth records at just 8 years old to shattering the world record in High Jump T63 at the Paris 2023 Para Athletics World Championship with a leap of 1.95 meters, Ezra’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. His accolades include being a double silver Parapan American Games medalist and a forceful advocate for inclusivity through sports.

Beyond his athletic prowess, 18-year-old Ezra is a co-founder of Angel City Sports, providing accessible sports training and competitive opportunities for individuals with physical disabilities. His early start as a motivational speaker has made him a prominent voice for raising awareness and understanding of physical challenges, advocating for a world where being different is not just accepted but celebrated.

Ezra’s message, ​“You can Dream it, You can Hope for it, or You can Make It Happen,” along with his young life’s work, underscores the importance of resilience, determination, and the power of focusing on what we have rather than what we lack. These qualities are not only relevant to overcoming personal challenges but also resonate deeply with the ethos of our laboratory work.

Join us for an unforgettable presentation that promises to inspire and motivate, reminding us all of the incredible achievements possible and how much we can learn when we embrace and support each other’s differences.

Abstract:

Russell Lehmann is a poet, activist and TEDx Talk speaker who has given remarks from Helsinki to Dubai – a most unlikely outcome for a child diagnosed with autism at the age of 12 after a five week stay in a psychiatric ward. Russell uses hindsight and insight from some of his most traumatic life experiences to generate awareness of the power and potential that exists in embracing new perspectives and ideas with compassion and understanding.

Russell’s talk dives into the challenges of the human experience, uniting the efforts of diverse groups to achieve substantive, systemic change and acceptance. He channels his passion to stand up for those who are not yet strong enough to do so themselves, aware of how painful it is to go unnoticed.

Russell’s presentation will inspire you, as he emphasizes the importance of unity and collaboration across diverse groups – no matter what their challenges. His story aligns with the Laboratory’s mission to highlight the value of embracing different perspectives and backgrounds to drive innovation and problem-solving. 

• Jessica's Q&A
• Help with reasonable accommodations: Ask Jan - ADHD 
• 30 Essential Ideas for Parents Of Children With ADHD - Dr. Russell Barkley

Abstract:        

October is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) awareness month. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects between 5 and 8% of the global population. This why this month's event spotlights Jessica McCabe, the mind behind the popular YouTube channel HowToADHD.

In this presentation, Jessica will share her personal journey with ADHD, from early promise as a gifted child to the challenges she faced due to her diagnosis. She will delve into experiences of self-blame, frustration, and societal biases, including sexism.

But this talk is not just about challenges; it's also about understanding and empowerment. Jessica will explore the science behind ADHD, its effects on the brain, and the often-overlooked strengths that come with this condition.

Whether you or someone you know is affected by ADHD, or if you are simply interested in learning more about this complex condition, this event promises to be both educational and uplifting.

• Contact: savvyallyaction@gmail.com
• Savvy Ally Action: Please subscribe so you will never miss Jeannie's 3-minute monthly video with savvy ally tips (only one email a month!)
• Savvy Ally Action YouTube Channel: Here is the link to Jeannie's YouTube channel where you’ll find all of her free 3-minute videos with savvy ally tips!
• Savvy Ally Action LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplaces
• Savvy Ally Action Good Talk Tips
• Savvy Ally Action Glossary of Terms

Abstract:

The grand challenges we face today - like climate change and inequality - can seem intractable. After all, the systems we live, work, and learn within are imbued with implicit bias and continue to produce inequitable and unjust outcomes. The field of science is no exception. Today, because bias, discrimination and inequity continue to prevent the full diversity of voices - and their ideas, questions, and solutions - from reaching the world’s megaphones and shaping what happens inside and outside the laboratory, we are necessarily stymying our progress toward a more equitable and sustainable world.          

But this doesn't have to be our story.          

With the need for innovation more urgent than ever, and a collective imperative to create the conditions where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential, small systemic disturbances have the power to create seismic change. And each of us can play an active role in creating those disturbances.In this session, you’ll hear a guest perspective from Dr. Sonali Mohapatra who will describe why now is the time to innovate the systems in the field of science for greater equity and equitable scientific innovation. Dr. Kristen Liesch will explore how small disturbances and ‘domino dynamics’ have the power to transform our systems and drive a more equitable and innovative future. She will share insight drawing on the science of behavioral change and the art of social change, and provide practical examples and tactics you can use to create “small disturbances” of your own.