Every morning, as the first light of dawn paints the skies, I find myself walking along the shores of Carpinteria, gazing out at the Channel Islands, a constant reminder of the ancient stories and mysteries these lands hold. The very sight of these islands evokes the story of the Arlington Springs Man, a testament to our deep-rooted connection to this region. Modern science has revealed that this individual walked these lands some 13,000 years ago. In a time where our differences seem to cast shadows, this discovery serves as a poignant reminder: that beyond our disparities, we all share an innate bond with the awe-inspiring planet we call home.
Our beloved Carpinteria and its mesmerizing vistas of the Channel Islands are but a small fragment of the wonders this world has to offer. It is the place I have chosen as the rallying point to safeguard, conserve, and treasure our invaluable shared heritage. Regardless of our individual backgrounds, we bear a collective duty to ensure that our planet remains a sanctuary of sustainability and equity for every creature, from the tiniest insect to the towering redwoods, for eons to come.
The poignancy of Louie Psihoyos' film 'Racing Extinction' pulls at the heartstrings, laying bare the harsh realities of species decline, erasing eons of existence within the span of a single generation. Yet, amidst the despair, hope arises. Flywheel Forum and Festival is our beacon of that hope. It is more than just an event—it is a symphony of voices, a chorus of change-makers, dedicated to the preservation and celebration of our planet's wonders.
I eagerly await the day I can welcome you to the Flywheel Forum & Festival. A confluence where art meets advocacy, where appreciation melds with action, all in homage to the sheer splendor of the world around us.
Together, as we stand hand in hand, with the Channel Islands as our backdrop, we can—and we will—make a difference. We must.
— ANDY PATRICK
LYNN LUCKOW • Lynn is a senior advisor and four-time CEO. He served as President & CEO of Craigslist Foundation, Northern California Grantmakers, Jossey-Bass Publishers, and LikeMinded, Inc. and has served on or consulted to over 50 nonprofit boards.
MARTA SALAS-PORRAS • Marta is a multi-disciplinary whole systems thinker and creative director having worked on projects for Nature Conservancy, Swatch, and as ECD at Obscura she shaped the way people engaged with content in the Age of Visualization, Interactivity and Collaboration.
CHRIS RAINIER • Chris is a world-renowned documentary photographer focusing on the preservation of the planet's last wildernesses and traditional cultures. He is National Geographic Explorer and the Founder & Director of the Cultural Sanctuaries Foundation.
Barbara Kopple •Barbara is a two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker known primarily for her documentary work. She is credited with pioneering a renaissance of cinema vérité, and bringing the historic French style to a modern American audience.
Rich Goodstone • Rich is the co-founder of Superfly Productions, passionately driven by creating and curating culture through immersive live events crafted cultural experiences with a distinct identity, such as the iconic Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and Outside Lands Festival.
Princess Daazhraii Johnson • Princess Daazhraii Johnson (she/her) is Neets'aii Gwich'in and lives with her three sons, daughter, and partner on lower Tanana Dene lands in Alaska. She serves on the boards of Native Movement and NDN Collective, and the SAG-AFTRA Native American Committee. She is an Emmy-nominated screenwriter and former Creative Producer for Peabody award-winning PBS Kids series Molly of Denali and was recently selected as one of Grist's 50 Climate Leaders.
Patricia Clarke • Patricia is an award-winning photographer based in Carpinteria, California. With a background in humanitarian efforts and non-profit projects, she is currently producing "Facing Ourselves Project," a portraiture project pertaining to migration and community. Photo © Edward Clynes