March 3-4, 2020, Sacramento

A gathering
of people who
make places

REGISTER

ABOUT

Why do you do what you do?

What keeps you going when others would have stopped, or cut corners, or made it beiger, or opted for the path of least (or lesser) resistance?

Why do difficult work that’s likely to be misunderstood by the many for the sake of the passionate few?

Because you can see it.
Because others will be fed by it.
Because it’s inside of you yearning to be expressed.
Because more-bigger-faster is ultimately a hollow pursuit.

Each year in March, an eclectic mix of creative, restless souls gather for a time of quiet contemplation and expansive thinking, fueled by stirring speakers sharing provocative, vulnerable stories.

In 2020, we’ll hold our third annual gathering — this time in Sacramento, in a performing arts theatre located in the heart of the culture-rich midtown district.

Who attends? Developers, musicians, makers, planners, writers, architects, artists, activists, teachers, agitators. In short, the people who together, altogether, make places. Who take matter and make it matter.

For a day and a half, this small, eclectic and highly potent brew of speakers and participants will wrestle with difficult questions, engage in rich conversations, and share meals, stories, ideas, and human experiences.

It’s why we do what we do.

—

Matter is created and curated by Greg Fuson as a project of the Plan Be Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that celebrates and supports people whose work fosters community and connectedness.

PROGRAM

The 2020 program is being lovingly crafted and will be unveiled in January. Below are some of the speakers who’ve led past years’ conversations.

What can you expect? Stirring speakers in an intimate setting sharing vulnerable stories. Be prepared to laugh, cry, be provoked, be inspired, and feel something. What you shouldn’t expect is a nuts-and-bolts seminar. You won’t “get the latest techniques” or “discover 20 tips and tricks.” You will, however, have the time and space and guidance to think deeply about the truly significant stuff.

Elle Luna

Elle Luna is an iconic designer, painter, writer, and author of The Crossroads of Should and Must.
Elle Luna is an iconic designer, painter, writer, and author of The Crossroads of Should and Must.

Michael Ford

Michael Ford is creator of The Hip Hop Architecture Camp, using rap as a hook to introduce young minority students to architecture, urban planning and design.
Michael Ford is creator of The Hip Hop Architecture Camp, using rap as a hook to introduce young minority students to architecture, urban planning and design.

Christian Picciolini

At age 16, Christian Picciolini was a leader of the neo-Nazi movement. Today he’s a peace advocate working to build a global network of extremism prevention.
At age 16, Christian Picciolini was a leader of the neo-Nazi movement. Today he’s a peace advocate working to build a global network of extremism prevention.

Micah Bournes

Micah Bournes is a spoken word artist who blends and bends genres to illuminate deep issues like friendship, race, love and redemption.
Micah Bournes is a spoken word artist who blends and bends genres to illuminate deep issues like friendship, race, love and redemption.

Emily Zulauf

Emily Zulauf is a former story developer for Pixar who left to pursue her own Hero’s Journey: as co-director of the Seattle Clemency Project.
Emily Zulauf is a former story developer for Pixar who left to pursue her own Hero’s Journey: as co-director of the Seattle Clemency Project.

Joey Zwillinger

Joey Zwillinger is co-founder and co-CEO of Allbirds, the sustainable wool footwear dubbed by Time as “the world’s most comfortable shoe.”
Joey Zwillinger is co-founder and co-CEO of Allbirds, the sustainable wool footwear dubbed by Time as “the world’s most comfortable shoe.”

Nina Simon

Nina Simon transformed a struggling museum into a vibrant community hub. Now she’s helping organizations globally become “of, by, and for” their communities.
Nina Simon transformed a struggling museum into a vibrant community hub. Now she’s helping organizations globally become “of, by, and for” their communities.

Jason Rosenthal

Jason Rosenthal is a lawyer, painter, writer, amateur chef, music aficionado, and speaker with a profound message about love, loss, grief and fulfillment.
Jason Rosenthal is a lawyer, painter, writer, amateur chef, music aficionado, and speaker with a profound message about love, loss, grief and fulfillment.

Jason Roberts

Jason Roberts is an artist, civic activist, urban designer and organizer of “Better Block” projects, converting blighted city bocks into lively, walkable districts.
Jason Roberts is an artist, civic activist, urban designer and organizer of “Better Block” projects, converting blighted city bocks into lively, walkable districts.

Ronald Rael

Ronald Rael is a design activist and author of “Borderwall as Architecture,” an artistic and intellectual hand grenade that re-examines the barriers that divide us.
Ronald Rael is a design activist and author of “Borderwall as Architecture,” an artistic and intellectual hand grenade that re-examines the barriers that divide us.

Roshaun & Maritza Davis

Roshaun and Maritza Davis breathe life and vitality into public spaces by staging events and experiences that engage people, community and culture.
Roshaun and Maritza Davis breathe life and vitality into public spaces by staging events and experiences that engage people, community and culture.

Brian Rea

Brian Rea is an award-winning illustrator with a profound gift for taking internal experiences and making them visible, tangible and relatable.
Brian Rea is an award-winning illustrator with a profound gift for taking internal experiences and making them visible, tangible and relatable.

Courtney Ferrell

With a witty sense of humor and irrepressible energy, Courtney Ferrell provokes organizations and individuals to think and behave differently.
With a witty sense of humor and irrepressible energy, Courtney Ferrell provokes organizations and individuals to think and behave differently.

George Zisiadis

George Zisiadis is an artist and designer who wants to make you smile. His public artworks, exhibited across the US, playfully re-imagine the everyday.
George Zisiadis is an artist and designer who wants to make you smile. His public artworks, exhibited across the US, playfully re-imagine the everyday.

Alex Hillman

Alex Hillman is co-founder of one of the first and longest running coworking spaces. Along the way, he learned a thing or two about community, connectedness and JFDI.
Alex Hillman is co-founder of one of the first and longest running coworking spaces. Along the way, he learned a thing or two about community, connectedness and JFDI.

LOCATION & LOGISTICS

m20 sofia exterior circle
m20 sofia interior circle
m20 tower bridge circle

SETTING

The Sofia Tsakopoulos Center for The Arts (affectionately known as “The Sofia”), is home to Sacramento’s beloved B Street Theatre. Located in the heart of the culture-rich midtown district, it’s an inspired setting for unconventional thinking.

ACCOMMODATION

We’re in the process of arranging group rates at area hotels; details to follow. Or, for options that are closer and homier, Midtown Sacramento boasts a wide variety of Airbnb listings.

AIRPORT

The venue is 13.7 miles from Sacramento International Airport (SMF).

PARKING

Sutter Community Garage is just around the corner ($15/day).

ATTIRE

Relaxed and comfortable. Like you’d dress to hang out with close friends. Jeans? Shorts? Parachute pants? It’s all good.

REGISTER

Matter 2020 is capped at 200 attendees, and participation is by invitation or referral.

The summer release of tickets is now open through August 2, or whenever they’re all purchased.

To register, use the password that was emailed to you. (If you didn’t receive it, send a note to hello@mattergathering.com.)

REGISTER

If you’re not on the invitation list and would like to be added, tell us a little about you. We’ll send you info about future gatherings.

CONTACT US