With Malibu waves echoing just steps away, Fund for Guaranteed Income Executive Director Nika Soon-Shiong said, “Technology is part of the road to change, but the process to build it is where it starts.” Heads nodded as the statement made its way to the crowd, her fellow Los Angeles Tech Week panelists diligently agreeing with what would be the sentiment for the next hour.

Tech Week brings together, in three American cities, the people and ideas helping shape today’s technological landscape. Joining the conversation for a second consecutive year, the Goldhirsh Foundation and LA2050 hosted on October 15th a “Technology and Storytelling For Social Good” panel at the seaside headquarters of the Creative Visions Foundation.

​Bringing back last year’s topic, the event featured new panelists from Los Angeles’ nonprofit sector, each sharing how they use a variety of digital tools and platforms to better serve communities. ​

"Technology and Storytelling for Social Good" was moderated by Tara Roth, president of the Goldhirsh Foundation and LA2050, and featured: Maggie Lin, executive director, Foster Nation; Nika Soon-Shiong, executive director, Fund for Guaranteed Income; Carmen Dianne, founder of Prosperity Market; and Chris Wilson, assistant vice president, digital impact of Peer Health Exchange. All four of those organizations are past winners of the LA2050 Grants Challenge.

Technology’s Impacts

The Goldhirsh Foundation’s Roth began the conversation by asking Foster Nation’s Lin how technology has impacted the way the organization has supported foster youth. Lin’s answer, in part: A new AI chatbot program that walks users through a series of questions aimed at determining the most beneficial resources.

The chatbot, Lin explained, makes it easier for young adults facing uncertainties and new difficulties to navigate the world, and on their own timeframe given the bot’s 24-hour accessibility.

Another topic covered by Roth and the panel was technology’s role as a tool of amplification, accessibility, and service. Peer Health Exchange's Wilson asked, “How do we ensure we are building a platform that is not doing more harm and also bringing more people into the space?”

“We wanted to ensure safety with our online programs, so we built a digital advisory board as well,” Wilson said, referring to the group that overlooks their selfsea web app, which is designed to provide youth with information and resources to address the identities and experiences they struggle with.

Prosperity Market’s Dianne spoke about imagination and the willingness to make it reality. “The thing about innovation is that you’re already coming up with challenges because you’re the first to do something,” she said. “If you have this big vision, you’re going to see it through.”

Prosperity Market’s tech includes a solar-powered mobile Farmer’s Market, and an online marketplace featuring curated products from Black-owned businesses. Diane told the crowd that technology has helped grow their range from local to far beyond, benefiting the organization’s goal of cultivating food access for all.

Fund For Guaranteed Income’s Soon-Shiong highlighted the many issues within the current housing crisis voucher system and how technology has helped spotlight the various resources available for those who are looking. She noted that through technology, F4GI’s Housing Pledge, a pilot program aimed at reimagining housing bureaucracy, was able to expedite the funds that would alleviate income inequality and reconceptualize today’s wellbeing safety net.

“We built these things to make sure that there is social infrastructure for what tomorrow should look like,” Soon-Shiong said, emphasizing the importance of adapting programs to fit and reach users at their convenience.

Digital Storytelling

Storytelling was the other half of the title of the panel, and Roth asked Soon-Shiong, “How does storytelling help change the way the public understands the impact of guaranteed income?” Soon-Shiong’s answer discussed storytelling’s role to raise awareness, and technology as the medium to solve it.

Lin, of Foster Nation, similarly mentioned her organization’s #SpeakUp video series, which she said provides a safe, supportive space for foster youth to shed light on their own experiences, empowered by digitized activism to reach a larger audience.

The formal portion of the event concluded with an audience Q&A that led to a discussion about aging and digital accessibility for seniors. Afterwards, as small groups formed throughout the Creative Vision Foundation space, making introductions and discussing possible collaborations, it was clear that attendees left inspired to leverage the power of technology to make a difference.

Photos: From top to bottom: Panelists and moderator, Tara Roth, together at Creative Visions Foundation; panelist Maggie Lin, panelist Chris Wilson, panelist Nika Soon-Shiong, panelist Carmen Dianne.