TEDx, Wilson Park, Florence AL September 8, 2018
The title of my talk is Out to Change the World, Living the Hippie Dream, and it weaves together my story and The Farm Community’s history, while putting forth the idea that every one of us has the power to make a difference.
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I was honored to be chosen as one of 9 out of 100 applicants, to speak under a theme of Change. During the talk I speak about the state of the world, my life as a hippie activist, and how to find fulfillment.
Below the bio they wrote for me, and picture they used. They were very kind!
Douglas Stevenson
For over 40 years, Douglas Stevenson has been on the cutting edge of alternative lifestyle and technology. Douglas has been the principal spokesperson for The Farm, an intentional community located on 1750 acres in rural Tennessee, founded in 1971 on the principles on nonviolence and respect for the earth, known around the world as a living model for a sustainable lifestyle.
He is a photographer, videographer and producer, as well as an author, with 3 books and over 1000 published articles on subjects ranging from digital technology to spirituality.
Douglas has had the opportunity to travel and live in many parts of the world. Douglas, his wife, and their two young children, spent two years in Guatemala, serving as volunteers after a devastating earthquake. He’s installed satellite dishes in Africa, documented the inner workings of factories in Belarus, climbed a volcano in Bali, and did photography for UNICEF in Belize.
Serving as a board member, president and principle grassroots fundraiser for the nonprofit Swan Conservation Trust, he was instrumental in raising $1.5 million to establish a 1400 acre nature preserve that surrounds his home in Tennessee. As a founding member of PeaceRoots Alliance, he oversaw a billboard national campaign and helped establish the Farmer Veteran Coalition, a nonprofit which provides funding for veterans seeking education and employment in agriculture, and as a path for healing.
Douglas is also a singer/songwriter, performing professionally for over 45 years in many different genres, including folk, country, bluegrass and rock, using music to open the heart, spreading a message of hope, celebration, and as an essential tool for building the bonds of community.