Ryan and Kassidy Brown
Journey of Action
Kassidy and Ryan Brown's mission isn't much different than that of this Change Makers column, making them perfect Change Makers! Like we highlight individuals and organizations making a positive difference, the brother-sister team uses the power of video webisodes to do the same, only focusing their lens on youth.
The name of their project is appropriately dubbed Journey of Action. If you're currently in LA, you could spot Kassidy and Ryan's Journey of Action bus, which is currently making its 5th stop in what is a Pan American Highway adventure. With stops between Alaska and Argentina to document all things cool in environment, education, human and civil rights, the global economy, poverty, global health, and politics.
Planet Green: How did you get into this line of work?
Kassidy and Ryan Brown: This project combines our passion for traveling, volunteerism, education, and film. We feel that our generation is aware of the social and environmental challenges we face on a local level and on a global level, but they lack tools for action. Through our travels, we knew that there are so many amazing Gen Y social entrepreneurs and organizations changing the world, but they get little or no media attention. We saw this void of entertaining and educational entertainment and formed Journey of Action.
PG: Who is your green hero?
KB & RB: Our green heroes are Cameron Sinclair, founder of Architecture for Humanity and Eric Schlosser, incredible investigative journalist and author of Fast Food Nation. They have both been sincere mentors to us over this last year.
PG: What is your ultimate green goal?
KB & RB: Our goal is to highlight the culture of social activism and create media that entertains, educates and inspires our audience to take action in their daily lives.
PG: What is your motivation?
KB & RB: Our fellow Millennials, who are some of the world's most influential, globally aware, technologically savvy and socially conscious people in the world. Their work inspires us to use the power of film for social good.
PG: What is most important to you, ecologically speaking?
KB & RB: We think true sustainability can be achieved through local living economies that are globally connected. We think BALLE says it best, "The world we want is a global system of interconnected Local Living Economies that operate in harmony with local ecosystems, meet the basic needs of all people, support just and democratic societies, and fosters joyful community life."
PG: What is the most challenging part of your job?
KB & RB: Our success is measured by the amount of people who view our videos and are inspired to take action. In order to reach a broad audience, we must create content that not only educates but also entertains, which sometimes is a tough balance.
PG: What is the most rewarding?
KB & RB: Every day we get to interview and hang out with the world's brightest individuals who are dedicated to making a positive impact in the world.
PG: Of the people you have worked with, who impresses you most?
KB & RB: The project has provided us the opportunity to meet the President of Spain, Managing Director of the World Bank, and other world leaders. Though the people that have impressed us the most are the members of our generation who are changing traditional models of businesses, not for profits, and technology, at a very young age and with little resources. As our friend and a change maker himself, David Burstein, says, "This is a generation of change, but we're a product of our world and times."
PG: What green thing do you do everyday?
KB & RB: Every day we vote with our dollar. We make a conscious effort to buy local goods and fair trade products.
PG: What do you wish you could do?
KB & RB: We wish we could get mainstream media to switch their focus of only highlighting the problems in to the world to highlighting the solutions of the challenges we face.
PG: What is your biggest eco-sin?
KB: I need to bike more.
RB: I need to shorten my showers.
PG: If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?
KB & RB: We believe education is the solution to many of the world's problems. If we could change one thing in the world, it would be to ensure that every child has equal opportunity and access to education.
PG: What is your best green advice?
KB & RB: Be aware that you are powerful. We are all interconnected and what you do every day affect others and the world, which means your daily actions, can change the world. You are either a part of the solution or the problem.
Change Makers is series of interviews, with people famous and obscure, who are creating a more sustainable world through their work. Meet more Change Makers here.
