SXSW on March 12: 21 Hidden Gems
The Forrest Four-Cast: March 11, 2019
Looking to fill some gaps in your SXSW schedule? Check out these fascinating discussions — all happening on Tuesday, March 12.
Combating Islamophobia with Marketing and Design
With the rise of Islamophobia on one side, and extremism on the other, Islam has been cast as irrational, incompatible with modern civilization, and inherently violent. Using articles, infographics, podcasts, videos, web and mobile applications, and a robust social media presence, Yaqeen Institute has been able to proliferate content that dispels myths and misconceptions associated with Islam and Muslims while simultaneously equipping Muslims with the education to participate in the public discourse.
9:30-10:30 am, The Line
New Regulatory Reality: Innovation Killer or Enabler?
Today’s regulatory environment seems to be changing at the speed of a Tweet. Former CFPB and Treasury official, prior capital markets and venture investor, and now consumer financial health innovation and policy advocate, Garry Reeder provides context for these regulatory changes and its impact on innovation. Specifically, he will provide a playbook for capitalizing on current regulatory changes, the unique challenge facing fintech players, and how best to build a stable company able to weather future changes.
9:30-10:30 am, Hilton Austin Downtown
Secretary Elaine Chao Discusses New Initiatives on Emerging Transportation Technologies
Emerging transportation technologies promise to improve safety, enhance quality of life, and propel economic growth. Many of these advances will not fit neatly into the traditional categories around which the government is organized — air, rail, highways, transit, and other “modes.” The Department of Transportation must prepare for the future by finding new ways to address cross-modal technologies that are on the near horizon. Learn more here.
10–11 am, Austin Convention Center
New Bosses/New Voices: Diversity in Media Ownership
Media shapes culture and popular opinion, and informs our democracy. But there is no true democracy without diverse media voices and a free and open press. Some popular new shows, movies and hires certainly demonstrate progress, but how can we REALLY promote sustainable diversity? Our next-gen media founders discuss this topic, show where it’s happening, and suggest ways to encourage more diverse media ownership.
11 am-noon, Hilton Austin Downtown
Voice Integration Meet Up
A deep dive into the current state of voice integration technologies. We will discuss how to solve the technical and practical challenges, consider future applications, and decipher how it will affect our lives individually and as a society.
11 am-noon, Fairmont
Inner Wellbeing: 3 Rituals for Everyday Upliftment
In a world of burnout culture and digital chaos, one thing remains: the power of deep, spiritual connection to cut through the noise and ground us in clarity, purpose and love. Inner Wellbeing is what Tara-Nicholle Nelson calls the upgraded, uplifted thoughts, emotions, actions and inner narratives that change our outer lives. She’ll share proven spiritual and practical frameworks, practices and rituals she’s now taught to over 12,000 people.
11 am-noon, The Line
Is Peace in the Holy Land Possible?
How can one of the world’s interminable conflicts transform into one of humanity’s greatest assets? Join four seasoned peacemakers from the Abrahamic Reunion who have worked for a combined 45 years in making peace in the Holy Land for inspirational and heart-warming stories, on-the-ground assessments, grassroots visions of hope, and keys to success in making peace in the Holy Land.
12:30-1:30 pm, The Line
Mexico Meet Up
Come by whether you’re interested in broadening your network, learning about how others are navigating SXSW or simply connecting with a colleague or friend that has made the trip from Mexico to Austin. Se habla Espanol!
12:30-1:30 pm, Fairmont
Student Journalists: Oasis in Today’s News Deserts
Student activism and engagement is experiencing a rebirth not seen since the 1960s and 1970s and student journalists have joined the fray. Newsroom diversity advocate Sonya Gavankar and free-speech expert David Hudson explore student journalism and the censorship challenges they face in reporting on controversial subjects — in school or in the community.
12:30-1:30 pm, JW Marriott
Photography Meet Up
Photography is everywhere — for some a hobby, for some a profession, and for others, an essential part of the tech stack. If photos are your thing, we welcome you to this Meet Up to network, talk imaging and share photos. Whether you are a film shooter, DSLR user, iPhoneographer, or into computational imaging, spend an hour with your photography peers. Bring your cameras, tablets, prints, books or other work to show and share.
12:30-1:30 pm, Fairmont
Protecting Our Peace Workshop
This workshop will reframe how we understand the ways that systemic racism affects our daily lives, the pitfalls of social media as a trigger and provide tools and resources that inspire holistic health and restoration. Participants will be invited to take part in active exercises that help us both individually and communally learn to resist, while protecting our peace.
12:30-2:30 pm, Westin Austin Downtown
Disrupting Extremism: New Tools to Fight Hate
Hate and violence from far right extremist ideologies have spread across America. Part of the catalyst of this trend is online propaganda supporting the cause. Can we harness the same technology that has disrupted the music, hotel, dating, gaming, and taxi industries to disrupt hate and extremism online? We will detail what can be done to protect online spaces from abuse by extremists.
2-3 pm, The Line
Unleashing Innovation for 21st-Century Resiliency
Nearly $300 billion of losses over the past five years due to drought, storm and flood, fire, and over weather related disasters begs the question: how does America unleash innovators, disruptors, entrepreneurs, and investors to strengthen resilience for neighborhoods, communities and industries? The panel will be a fast paced “reverse pitch“ session to engage with SXSW’s best new ideas and technology innovations.
2-3 pm, Hilton Austin Downtown
Will Attacks on Section 230 Unravel the Internet?
CDA 230 is the most important law protecting free expression and innovation online and it’s under attack. While well-intentioned, changes to CDA 230 will have a catastrophic impact on the internet and its ability to drive economic growth and free expression. This panel of experts will discuss the recent attacks on CDA 230 and how they can impact the technology industry — and the internet — forever.
2-3 pm, La Condesa
Always In Motion: 1 Woman, 12 Months, 52 Places
Journalist Jada Yuan was chosen out of 13,000 applicants to become the inaugural 52 Places Traveler for the New York Times. In 2018, she went to 52 places, capturing her experiences in writing, video, and photography. She’ll speak with Los Angeles Times’ Mark Olsen about what she packed, traveling solo, and what was — and wasn’t — dreamy about this dream job.
3:30-4:30 pm, JW Marriott
The Faces of America’s Invisible Population
The U.S. incarcerates the most people on the planet. Half of these incarcerated people are parents. The consequences are that over 10 million children in the U.S. have been affected by parental incarceration. This panel, moderated by Ebony Underwood, founder/CEO of We Got Us Now, a national organization dedicated to amplifying the issues, policies and practices that impact children and young adults with incarcerated parents, will look at this historically invisible population and offer conversation with Pete Monsanto, a photographer who has been directly impacted by his father’s incarceration for over 30 years and is the subject of the new documentary, Run for His Life.
3:30-4:30 pm, The Line
Religion, AI, and the Future of Work
Given recent advances in robotics and AI and projected trends, there are a number of predictions that foresee widespread and dramatic effect on work. For instance, one estimate is that 45 percent of current jobs are susceptible to automation. How are different faiths responding? How should they respond? Come hear this diverse and qualified panel respond to these and other questions.
3:30-4:30 pm, The Line
The Value of VR for Indie Labels and Artists
While advancements in immersive technologies have created new opportunities for the music industries to use VR/AR/MR in their marketing campaigns, smaller indie labels and artists face tremendous challenges. This panel will explore the value immersive experiences bring to indie labels and artists, and discuss the complexities of bringing VR/AR/MR into their marketing mix without compromising artistic integrity.
3:30-4:30 pm, JW Marriott
Civic Tech in the Service of the American People
America’s federal modernization plan includes a long-term transformational goal of delivering the American people a customer experience that compares to — or exceeds — that of leading private sector organizations. The Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) program, part of the U.S. General Services Administration’s Technology Transformation Services (TTS), is a transformative player in this modernization effort. Join TTS Commissioner Anil Cheriyan, PIF Deputy Director Davar Ardalan (moderator) and PIF Fellows Clara Tsao, and Stephen Winchell for an interactive and lively conversation.
3:30-4:30 pm, Hilton Austin Downtown
The Overlooked Future of US Entrepreneurs: Latinx
Hear from Latinx entrepreneurs and the investors who back them to understand who they are, what they’re building and how they’re making money. Attendees will learn what programs are already supporting Latinx entrepreneurs, what tips they have for recruiting investment and how together we can foster more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems.
3:30-4:30 pm, Hilton Austin Downtown
Applying Design Thinking to Medical Education
Today, future doctors are caught between the antiquated approach typified by most medical schools, and the burgeoning emergence of new stakeholders in healthcare: primarily driven by tech and creatives as well as patients who deserve better. Medical schools and hospitals must iterate, primarily in four key ways: flatten the hierarchy, foster creative problem-solving, optimize multi-disciplinary and integrative healthcare teams, and re-orient the patient-doctor relationship to emphasize wellness for both. The time is now.
5-6 pm, JW Marriott
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
