In 1967, Edward de Bono invented “Lateral Thinking.” It’s a type of reasoning that solves problems by steps that might not be obvious. 

For example, how do you get more college grads to enter the workforce wanting to go into technology? Regular logic would suggest employers pay more to people in these positions. Or offer college scholarships.

Todd Wackerman has come up with a lateral thinking solution. It’s called STEM Library Lab. It allows high schools to get kids interested in STEM subjects by lending schools science and tech equipment that they couldn’t otherwise afford.

Flor Serna is working laterally on the problem of only 3 in 10 people in engineering being women, and only 1 in 10 being women of color. Flor is the Executive Director of Electric Girls – a non-profit learning space where girls learn STEM skills from each other.

In a world where everything we hear about seems to be some form of disturbing news that’s delivered by mass media that half of us distrust, or social media that most of us distrust, it restores your faith in human nature to discover that there are people out there who are genuinely working for the greater good of all of us.

Photos over lunch at Commander’s Palace by Jill Lafleur.