Blog Post #2 Jose Herrera

Jose Herrera

 

The presentation about our changemakers was very interesting and honestly one of the most meaningful projects we worked on because it connected history, politics, science, and innovation in a way that felt real and easy to relate to. I liked how the presentation didn’t just list random facts about each person, but instead showed how the world around them shaped their actions and decisions. By starting with the timeline from 2000 to 2026, we were able to explain the major events that influenced society, like 9/11, the rise of social media, the recession, Covid, and other political and cultural moments. This made the presentation feel deeper because it showed that changemakers don’t appear out of nowhere, they come from real situations that affect everyone. It also helped us understand how communication, leadership, and innovation change depending on what is happening in society at that time.

Among the other elements, one section which interested me quite much was that about how different political changemakers had influenced the nation in their own way. By discussing Barack Obama for instance, we got to learn how political leadership could be used to create policies regarding healthcare, equality, and climate.  It was made clear how Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, extended coverage to many millions of individuals, and also repealed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, allowing gay Americans to serve in the army openly. Another person whose story was really interesting is that of Nancy Pelosi who was the first woman to hold the title of Speaker of the House. Pelosi played a great role in bringing about various policies regarding healthcare, diversity, and democracy.

Another part I enjoyed was learning about the scientific changemakers like Francis Collins, Anthony Fauci, and Jennifer Doudna. These figures showed us how science and medicine can change the world just as much as politics can. We explained how Collins led the Human Genome Project and helped discover important disease‑related genes, which opened the door for new medical research. Jennifer Doudna’s work with CRISPR gene editing was also fascinating because it showed how scientists can literally change DNA to treat or prevent genetic diseases. Fauci’s work during HIV/AIDS and Covid helped us understand how important communication is in public health, especially when people need accurate information to stay safe. This section made us realize how science depends on teamwork, research, and clear communication to help society move forward.

I also found the section about innovators like Elon Musk and Tom Szaky very engaging because it demonstrated how technology and environmental work can shape the future. Musk’s contributions to electric vehicles, reusable rockets, and satellite internet helped us understand how innovation can change transportation, communication, and even space exploration. Tom Szaky’s work with TerraCycle and Loop showed us how environmental changemakers can reduce waste and create new systems that help the planet. His idea of recycling the “non‑recyclable” and creating reusable packaging made us think about how everyday habits can be changed through creativity and leadership. These examples made the presentation feel more modern and connected to issues we see today, like climate change and technology growth.

Another thing I appreciated was how the presentation explained the lasting impact these changemakers have today. We talked about how Obama continues helping young leaders through the Obama Foundation, how Fauci still influences public health conversations, and how innovators like Musk keep pushing new ideas that affect the world. This helped us see that changemakers don’t stop making an impact once their main accomplishments are done. Their work continues to shape society, and people still learn from them. It also made the presentation feel more connected to our own lives because many of these issues, healthcare, technology, equality, and the environment, are things we deal with every day.

Moreover, the presentation was successful in illustrating the difficulties faced by change agents. In most cases, political conflicts, criticism from citizens, scientific pressure, and social division had to be overcome. This understanding enabled us to see their achievements in an even better light. We learned that communication was crucial for leaders at all levels, starting from the explanation of a new government policy by the president, a scientist introducing a novel finding, and an activist urging the audience to act. This element increased the realism of the project, demonstrating that any positive shift is difficult yet achievable through perseverance. The part of the presentation which I consider especially interesting was its interconnection among multiple domains of life. Although our selected individuals came from different disciplines such as politics, science, technology, and environmental conservation, we managed to show how their activity affected the development of society and contributed to it in their way. Thus, we understood that changes do not arise from one specific sphere but involve representatives of different disciplines who share common aims to improve the planet's condition.

I  liked that the presentation included visuals, timelines, and short explanations instead of long paragraphs. This made it easier for us to communicate the information clearly and for the audience to follow along. The bullet points helped us stay organized and made the presentation feel clean and easy to understand. It also matched the way I usually write, where I try to be direct and avoid adding too much unnecessary information.

Another thing I appreciated was how the presentation encouraged us to think about the future. When we talked about continuing Fauci’s ideas or supporting environmental efforts like TerraCycle, it made me  think about how I can also contribute to positive change. The suggestions about investing in healthcare, improving public education, and supporting sustainability showed us that changemaking is not just something famous people do. It is something regular people can do too, even in small ways.

Overall, I really enjoyed this presentation because it was organized, clear, and easy to connect to real life experiences. It helped us better understand how different types of changemakers, political, scientific, environmental, and technological, shape the world in their own ways. I also liked that the presentation didn’t just explain what these people did, but also why their work still matters today. Working on this project helped us see how communication, leadership, and innovation all play a role in creating positive change. It also made us think about how we can become changemakers in our own communities by staying informed, being open‑minded, and trying to make a difference in the world around us.