Here's what Chang, a popular TED speaker, had to tell The Huffington Post about the inspiring public spaces she creates:
“We're all trying to make sense of our lives and there's great comfort in knowing you're not alone. And you're not. Everyone you walk past is going through challenges in their life. Maybe it's their relationships or family or work or health. Maybe it's something they've been meaning to face for a long time. [I think of the quote] 'Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.' But it's easy to forget this because we rarely venture beyond small talk with strangers.”
Her dedication to creating an intersection of public art and civic engagement recently earned Chang a spot on the 2013 Good 100 list. In her speeches, she draws from the successes of her public space projects to show us a new way of thinking about urban planning. Combining personal stories with issues directly affecting the audiences she speaks to, Chang sparks conversation about how to best use our public spaces. And, how to harness the collective wisdom inherent in all the people who frequent them.