Where We Live Impacts How We Live | Shannon Kraus | TEDxPlano

Summary

The speaker reflects on childhood curiosity and creative disruption, now channeled into a career as an architect focused on improving health through design. The talk emphasizes how social, economic, and environmental factors influence well-being more than healthcare itself. Through examples like Roseto, a close-knit Italian community, and projects in Eastern Africa and Washington D.C., the speaker illustrates how design can foster healthier communities. The message encourages using 'design thinking' to positively impact communities by addressing challenges and fostering collaboration, showing that anyone can be a catalyst for change through care and creativity.

Takeaways

• 🏗️ The speaker's childhood curiosity and creativity led to a career in architecture and strategic thinking, focusing on improving well-being through design.
• 🌐 In the United States, health care costs are high, but health outcomes are poor, suggesting that the focus should shift towards community and environmental factors.
• 🔑 Only 20% of health and well-being is attributed to health care, while 80% is linked to social, economic, environmental, and behavioral factors.
• 📈 Life expectancy can vary significantly within the same city, highlighting the impact of where we live on our health.
• 🏠 The story of Roseto, Pennsylvania, demonstrates how a close-knit community with low stress can lead to better health outcomes.
• 🚗 Modern lifestyles centered around cars have led to less physical activity and increased stress, negatively impacting health.
• 🌱 The physical environment plays a significant role in health, and designing healthier communities can improve well-being.
• 🌍 Design thinking can be applied to create healthier communities, even in places with limited resources, like Ketchum Bala, Africa.
• 🌿 The Urban Food Studio in Washington DC is an example of how design thinking can improve access to healthy food and educate communities.
• 💡 Design thinking is an iterative method for problem-solving that considers social, cultural, and environmental variables to create thriving communities.
• 🌊 The impact of design thinking is not limited to the initial solution but can create a ripple effect, benefiting communities in multiple ways.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker’s early interest in exploring and creative problem-solving?

The speaker’s early interest in exploring and creative problem-solving was sparked by childhood experiences, such as climbing a radio antenna and taking apart toys to understand how they worked. These activities, initially seen as mischievous by his parents, laid the foundation for his career as an architect and strategic thinker, driven by the idea of 'creative disruption.'

What is the main argument the speaker presents about health care in the United States?

The speaker argues that while much attention is focused on health care and its costs, only 20% of our health and well-being is attributed to health care access. The remaining 80% is influenced by social, economic, environmental, and behavioral factors, highlighting the need to shift focus to these areas to improve public health.

How does the story of Roseto, Pennsylvania, illustrate the importance of community to health?

The story of Roseto, Pennsylvania, illustrates that a close-knit, interdependent community had lower stress levels and a significantly lower rate of heart disease compared to neighboring towns. Despite unhealthy habits like smoking and eating fried foods, the town's strong social bonds contributed to their overall better health, demonstrating the profound impact of community on well-being.

What changes did researchers observe in Roseto 30 years later, and what caused them?

Thirty years later, researchers found that Roseto's heart disease rates had risen to match those of the rest of the country. This change was attributed to the breakdown of the close-knit community as suburbanization and social isolation increased, leading to higher stress levels and a decline in health.

What example does the speaker provide to demonstrate how design can impact health in underprivileged areas?

The speaker discusses a project in Ketchum Bala, a village in eastern Africa, where new birthing facilities were designed in collaboration with the community. By training local workers in construction and healthcare, the project not only improved health outcomes for mothers and babies but also empowered the community with new skills, illustrating the ripple effect of design on health and well-being.

How does the speaker suggest that our built environment affects health in modern society?

The speaker suggests that modern car-oriented suburbs discourage healthy behaviors like walking and lead to increased stress. Walkable neighborhoods, in contrast, promote healthier lifestyles. The speaker advocates for designing environments that encourage physical activity and reduce stress to improve overall well-being.

What is 'design thinking,' according to the speaker, and how does it relate to community health?

Design thinking is described as an iterative, creative problem-solving method that considers social, cultural, and environmental factors to create solutions that help communities thrive. It can influence not only immediate issues but also generate positive 'ripple effects' that improve health and well-being over time.

What example does the speaker provide from Washington, DC, to demonstrate how design can address food access and health?

The speaker shares the example of the Urban Food Studio in Washington, DC, created by the Capital Area Food Bank. This project combines sustainable design with nutrition education and gardening, teaching individuals and families how to grow their own food. It addresses food access, which is a root determinant of health, and empowers people to make healthier choices.

How did the speaker’s personal experience during the 2013 Boston Marathon influence their view on community?

During the 2013 Boston Marathon, the speaker witnessed spectators and strangers coming together to help runners affected by the bombing, despite the fear and chaos. This experience reinforced the speaker's belief in the power of community and shared humanity to address challenges, including health and well-being.

What final call to action does the speaker give to the audience regarding design and health?

The speaker encourages everyone, regardless of profession, to engage in 'design thinking' to improve community health. By observing, engaging, and collaborating with groups working on local challenges, individuals can create a ripple effect of positive change, shaping healthier communities through thoughtful design and problem-solving.