Eve Blossom

Activist, Architect, Change Agent, Connector, Designer, Global soul, Philanthropist, Social entrepreneur, World traveler

Education: Masters in Architecture, Tulane University Current Work: Founder/CEO-Lulan Artisans Lulan Artisans is a social venture that partners with weavers and creates economic options and sustainable livelihoods to women, families and communities at-risk and has impacted over 3,000 individuals, 18 communities in 5 countries.(www.lulan.com) Author, Material Change: Design Thinking and the Social Entrepreneurship Movement Member of the Global Practitioner Council for Stanford University's, Program on Social Entrepreneurship Judge for the Hult Global Case Challenge 2012, in partnership with the Clinton Global Initiative. Aspen Institute Fellow US Work: Gensler & Associates Architects; Envolved.com-Founded Internet company focused on fundraising for non-profits. Gravity, Inc.-VP of Business Development for a 3D software company. American College of Building Arts-VP, Business Development for non-profit focused on training next generation building artisans. Work abroad: Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, India. Non-profit work: American College of Building Arts, Wings for Kids Languages: Spanish, German, Vietnamese, Hebrew, Russian (most out out of practice these days) Mentor: young women at-risk Charleston civic work: co-founded Charleston Green Coalition, created Lulan Sustainable Lecture Series, Board Member-Central Business District Revitalization Commission, co-founder-Upper King Street Design District Association, member Upper King Street Merchants Association

I am passionate about contributing to significant social change in the world. I am committed to turning my work of social change into a social movement. I am focused on ending human trafficking.

Social Venture on Steroids: Take successful social venture business model and expand it into a large-scale social movement to truly empower people globally through a strong economic engine and to celebrate these individuals' spirit, talents and cultures. Holistic Social Movement: Impact every aspect of an individual's life through the social movement (culturally, economically, socially and environmentally). Focus is on out-of-poverty wages, healthy working environments, access to healthcare, education for children, daycare, housing assistance, women literacy classes, pride in work and preservation of traditions and skills. Beyond Replication of a model: Create a structure where successful social venture model is shared globally on a grassroots level one group teaching another directly and also using technology to create widespread adoption. Model is adaptive to differences in cultures. Locals within each culture train and teach. Over time, groups have ownership in their assets.

During the time I lived in the Bay Area (many years ago), I knew plenty of people who talked about and attended TED. I thought someday maybe I could or would attend. Years later (last year), a friend of mine, who frequents TED, asked me if I was going that year. I had never registered and so I did and to my delight, became a member!

Packing one carry-on bag for 6 week international trips, seeing firsthand in 17 years, many Thai coups, making special French toast, writing poetry but cannot share them since they are too..