Solving Sacramento

After a self-esteem-destroying year of job hunting, I decided to take a break, dip into my savings and go spend the summer in Great Britain. I hiked, I sailed, I took courses for fun and for professional purpose, I soaked up arts & culture, and I made many friends and colleagues. It was incredibly hard to leave - I almost didn't board the plane - but all the UK experiences did give me inspiration to return home and jumpstart California Groundbreakers events after a 4-year hiatus, but with a different slant. I’ve decided to start a regular Salon in Downtown Sacramento, and call it “Enlightenment. “ Ruhstaller Beer has graciously offered me the use of its BSMT taproom at 726 K St for the rest of 2024. I intend to host a few imperfect, convivial gatherings with drinks, food, vibrant conversation, and hopefully live music and local art, with the intent to change the world bit by bit in our own community. Four major reasons why I believe "Enlightenment" is needed right now: 1) to provide a reason for supporting Downtown Sacramento at a time when many shops and restaurants are shutting down 2) to create a gathering space that provides social connection during this time when a "Loneliness Epidemic" is prevalent and causing mental/physical health issues 3) to inform and educate people at a time when local journalism is faltering 4) to start a new "Age of Enlightenment," just as they did in the Paris salons during the 17th-18th centuries, with conversations among people of all socioeconomic backgrounds that instigated revolutionary developments in philosophy, science, politics and culture. I’m choosing local/national/global topics I’d like to know more about, and asking guests what they want to know about, too. (If you have suggestions, post a comment below.) Then I’m finding experts on the subject, from authors and professors to filmmakers and company founders, and inviting them to come over so we can ask them some fireside-chat types of questions about their work, life and the topic. The first Enlightenment salon is Tuesday, September 17, 6-7 pm. It's a talk with two of the world's best experts on beer, who live just down the road. Ask them anything about beer and brewing it, serving it, pairing it, etc. No question is too dumb. https://lnkd.in/g3hxm3YT With Enlightenment, I want to build a new movement around stimulating conversation in real life, because that’s really what we need right now in the world. A lot more face-to-face conversations, understanding each other’s views, listening, asking questions, being curious, enjoying each other’s company and having FUN. If you're in town next Tuesday, join us. Keep an eye on the calendar at https://lnkd.in/gK7bFwAb Whether or not any new idea or innovation comes out of these evenings, we definitely will have a lot of laughs along the way, I promise.