A big part of making decisions is determining what our actions and choices have been inspired by. So we asked decision makers from the community to tell us about what they are inspired by.

Regina Larko | Founder & CEO

I am inspired by how my young children cope with setbacks. They are 1, 3 and 6 years old now and I am just in awe of their persistence. When they fall, they get back up, when they can’t figure something out right away, they look for other ways to find a solution. I think there is so much for all of us grown ups to learn from children. Their creativity and resilience inspires me greatly. Read more>>

Marcus Recasner | Filmmaker & Photographer

Watching and listening to others inspires my creativity as a filmmaker and photographer. My father told me early on I could learn a lot more from listening with my ears than my mouth. When I turned twenty-one I went to a lot bars and would observe other people. Additionally I would meet people through film and photography work who caught my attention and I would want to learn more about them as a person. Whether I’m listening to music in a mall or watching or passing by someone on the street, I always try to be aware of my surroundings. Read more>>

Ric DeSantiago | Scientific Researcher & Artist

Nature. Whether it’s science or art, the origins of all my creative works are imbedded in some observation of the natural world. Southern California has a huge diversity of ecosystems, from the desert to ocean, rivers to lakes, and mountains all around our concrete jungles. But you don’t need to go very far to find nature, it’s breaking through the cracks on the sidewalk, it’s at the base of the mailbox post, you just have to look closely. Challenge yourself to look at nature on a different scale, find any green space and zoom in. An interaction between a cute little ladybug and some pesky aphids suddenly turns the ladybug into a vicious carnivore tossing aphids into its gullet like popcorn in a movie theater. Read more>>