Everyone has a story. What’s yours?
Inspire! is a community-based speaker series, designed to showcase the
best and brightest talent in Las Vegas. This monthly event provides
a platform for thought leaders and changemakers to share authentic,
purpose-driven, and inspirational stories.
"Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
-- Martin Luther King Jr.
Our theme for September is Service, where we will hear four
heartwarming and inspirational stories of giving.
Inspire! Schedule:
12:45 p.m. - Mix, mingle and collide with other community members
1:00 p.m. - Welcome to Inspire! from Host & Curator, Rukesh Samarasekera
1:05 p.m. - Hello from Delivering Happiness, Kelsey Wong
1:10 p.m. - Evelyn Sabino, CatalystCreativ
1:20 p.m. - Rick Passo, Food Hub Las Vegas
1:30 p.m. - Janette Powell, Cirque du Soleil
1:40 p.m. - Brian Burton, Three Square Food Bank
1:50 p.m. - Q&A with speakers
2:05 p.m. - Connect with the Las Vegas Community!
In addition to talking about service, we're doing! In partnership with USGBC and Three Square Food Bank we have two simple yet impactful ways to give:
1.Volunteer with us! Saturday morning [9/27] | 8:00am-12:00pm at the Walter Bracken Elementary School from 8am - 12pm. In partnership with USGBC Nevada, for the Green Apple Day of Service., we encourage you to give your time to help this amazing elementary school in the heart of Las Vegas.
2. Donate non-perishable food items! Bring non-perishable food items, so together we can create a hunger free community. All items will be donated to Three Square Food Bank.
This Month's Speakers:
HEADLINER: Brian Burton
President and Chief Executive Officer, Three Square Food Bank
Named the 2014 "Best Philanthropic Leader" by Vegas Seven Magazine, Brian Burton is President and CEO of the Three Square Food Bank. Only six years old, Three Square has become the fastest growing food bank in the nation. Last year it distributed more than 30 million pounds of food and grocery - that's more than 25 million meals. Prior to leading Three Square, Brian was Executive Director of the Wilkinson Center in Dallas, TX, a non-profit that empowers low-income families to break the cycle of poverty. Brian brings more than 20 years of non-profit industry experience. He is a native of Little Rock, AR., holds a MBA degree from LSU, and a Master of Divinity from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Janette Powell
Head Therapist, Cirque du Soleil, Zarkana
Janette grew up in "paradise". She has lived in some great places including: Gold Coast, Sydney, Calgary & Orlando. In 2001, Janette relocated to Las Vegas Nevada to work with Cirque du Soleil's "O". After 13 years at Cirque du Soleil's "O", Janette is currently the Head Therapist for Cirque du Soleil's Zarkana. In 2013 she cofounded a concierge Physical Therapy company in Las Vegas. Even after 24 years in the physiotherapy profession, Janette still revels in the challenge of making sense of an injury or dysfunction (each is unique) and she continues to be amazed at the magnificent human machine and its capacity for recovery and adaptation.
Rick Passo
Co-founder, Food Hub Las Vegas
@LVHelpGro
Rick is a Returned U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer from Tandag in the Republic of the Philippines. He has also been a Champion on Jeopardy, a Civil Litigation Attorney in Los Angeles, CA, a Disability Rights Attorney in Las Vegas, and an Immigration Attorney in Kansas. Rick is passionate about civil rights, disability rights, social enterprises, and international relations. He loves linking social entrepreneurs from around the world, especially via the Yellow Boat Foundation of Hope, www.yellowboat.org. Rick also is CoFounder of SeedLibrary Las Vegas and FoodHub Las Vegas. He currently is a Supply Logistics Specialist at UPS.
Evelyn Sabino
Communications & Events Manager, CatalystCreativ
@EvMarSab
Evelyn M. Sabino has always been a go-getter, graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a Linguistics B.A. in three years time. Upon graduating in 2009, she found work with Las Vegas Film Festival and met a traveling filmmaker who introduced her to Misión México, a children's refuge in Tapachula, Mexico. Inspired to act on the promise she made herself to volunteer long ago, this year Evelyn devoted 9 weeks in Tapachula, connecting with and learning from the amazing children. Today, Evelyn is Communications & Events Manager at CatalystCreativ. She enjoys knocking things off her bucket list and cuddling her dog.
Host & Curator: Rukesh Samarasekera
Storyteller and Changemaker, U.S. Green Building Council
Rukesh Samarasekera is the proud product of a single mom. Rukesh's talent for talking & listening had him co-hosting a radio show in the 5th grade. That interest evolved into a passion for connecting with others and giving them a platform to share their story. Rukesh is currently the Storyteller & Changemaker for USGBC in Washington, DC. He lives in Las Vegas, believes it is home to incredible talent, and plans to showcase the city’s best at Inspire! Rukesh graduated from Brown University.
