Introduction:

Good evening! I hope everyone has found a comfortable seat with an unobstructed view of the proceedings.

I forgot my clicker—hang on. This isn’t the way we practiced it, but I’m going to introduce Robin Treun now.

I have to take the microphone out or I’ll walk away from it—I always forget and just sail away.

I’m Robin Treun, and I work here at the Museum. I want to welcome everyone tonight to our PechaKucha: New Terrains – San Jose 2040.

Announcements:

• There will be people coming in and out, so just ignore them.
• If you have a cell phone or mobile device, please mute it.

What is PechaKucha?

Tonight, we are presenting a PechaKucha—some of you may be wondering, what the heck is that? I’ll let Rick explain, but it’s a presentation style that’s fast-paced and fun.

You’ll see several presenters tonight—we have six speakers from our partner organizations, each addressing the broad theme of New Terrains: Mobility and Envisioning a Shared Future for San Jose, looking toward the year 2040, the city's current master plan.

This program is part of New Terrains, a community-wide, multidisciplinary initiative convened by the museum. We currently have over 35 community partners involved, hosting various programs, educational experiences, and exhibitions.

If you’d like to check out upcoming events, visit newterrains.org.

Upcoming Event:

For next month’s Third Thursday, we’ll host an event celebrating New Terrains, featuring the opening reception for our exhibition Other Walks, Other Lines, which is currently being installed. All our partner organizations will be invited to participate, whether by performing, promoting events, or offering activities. It’ll be a big party celebrating our community, so we hope you’ll join us!

Knight Foundation Partnership:

This program is also part of the Knight Foundation’s Speak Up San Jose initiative, which aims to encourage community conversations about shaping the city’s future. The Knight Foundation has partially funded tonight’s event and provided some free swag—buttons, decals, etc.—which you’re welcome to take home.

Call to Action:

The Knight Foundation asked us to make a call to action, so here it is:
We invite everyone here to take an alternate form of transportation during New Terrains, snap a selfie, and post it with the hashtag #NewTerrains.

All our partner organizations will also make their own calls to action at the end of the event. They may have their own hashtags, but if they don’t, you can use #NewTerrains.

Rick Brett Snyder – What is PechaKucha?

Founder and host of PechaKucha San Jose

Who here has been to a PechaKucha event before?
Who has been to one of mine?

Great! I’m Rick Brett Snyder, and I want to welcome you to tonight’s event, where we’ll learn some strange and terrible PowerPoint secrets. Just kidding—this has nothing to do with PowerPoint.

What is PechaKucha?

PechaKucha was created in 2003 by two architects in Tokyo, Mark Dytham and Astrid Klein, who wanted to eliminate boring presentations at conferences. The format was so successful that it spread worldwide.

The PechaKucha Format:

• 20 slides
• 20 seconds per slide (automatically advancing)
• Total time: 6 minutes and 40 seconds

It forces presenters to be concise, engaging, and to the point. The format is now used in over 1,100 cities worldwide, and San Jose is one of them.

Why it Works:

Most presentations suffer from too much text. By the time a presenter finishes reading, the audience has already checked out. PechaKucha solves that problem by keeping things moving and engaging.

PechaKucha Presentations Begin:

California Walks

Topic: Mobility, Safety, and Equity

• Discussed how city infrastructure affects mobility.
• Highlighted issues of pedestrian fatalities, urban planning, and the historical context of transportation policies.
• Encouraged accountability for decision-makers and equitable distribution of resources.
• Call to Action: Take public transit at least twice in the next 30 days, snap a selfie, and post with #NewTerrains.

Mosaic America (Sangam Arts)

Topic: The Shift from "Melting Pot" to "Mosaic"

• Explained how the "melting pot" model of assimilation no longer applies.
• Advocated for a "mosaic" approach, where cultural diversity is embraced rather than blended into uniformity.
• Call to Action: Attend one cultural event outside your own community in the next month, take a picture, and tag @MosaicSiliconValley or @SangamArts.

Chopsticks Alley Art – Salt Stained Exhibit

Topic: Preserving Southeast Asian Heritage through Art

• Shared how Southeast Asian immigrant stories are often untold or misunderstood.
• Highlighted how food and art help bridge intergenerational gaps.
• Call to Action: Visit the Salt Stained exhibit and support local artists.

Run Local Movement – JT Service

Topic: Community, Fitness, and Social Impact

• Discussed the impact of local running events and the power of small community changes leading to larger societal shifts.
• Call to Action: Prioritize self-care, family, and community—then take action in your own way.

A Seat at the Table – Common Ground Initiative

Topic: Food, Cultural Identity, and Shared Spaces

• Described a traveling interactive exhibit where children and families explore connections between food and cultural identity.
• Call to Action: Support creative spaces that foster intercultural dialogue.

How to Survive as a Working Parent – Nicole

Topic: Work-Life Balance and Personal Growth

• Shared five key strategies for managing life as a working parent:
  1. Embrace guilt – It’s unavoidable, so accept it.
  2. Say no – Avoid overcommitting.
  3. Say yes – Prioritize what truly matters.
  4. Be uncomfortable – Growth happens outside your comfort zone.
  5. Keep juggling – There's no perfect balance, just constant adjustments.
• Call to Action: Focus on self-care first, then help others.

Final Q&A and Closing Remarks:

After all presentations, the speakers returned to the stage to share their calls to action and take audience questions.

Rick reminded everyone:

• Engage with your community—attend local events, support the arts, and advocate for equitable city planning.
• Participate in the challenges from the speakers—post your experiences with #NewTerrains.

Thank you for joining us, and we hope to see you at future New Terrains events!