How do you improve the lives of a hundred people? Thousand? Hundred thousand? Amy Hanauer's answer is public policy. Hanauer's talk at TEDxSHHS will focus on the difference public policy makes in a community, and how the smallest change in policy can make a big difference. Hanauer emphasizes how individual action can impact larger issues in a community, and encourages you to discover what you can do to influence policy decisions in your neighborhood.

Amy Hanauer is the founder and executive director of Policy Matters Ohio, which creates a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio through research, media work, coalition building and policy advocacy. By issuing more than 60 reports and receiving more than 600 news stories annually, Policy Matters improves lives and communities. Her work has helped raise the minimum wage, defend workers' rights, establish clean energy standards and expand Medicaid. Amy holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a BA from Cornell University. Before starting Policy Matters in 2000, she conducted research and policy work in Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington DC. Amy also serves on the board of directors and executive committee for national think tank Dēmos and the steering committee for Emerald Cities Cleveland. Amy now lives in Shaker Heights with her husband, political scientist Mark Cassell, and her children, Max and Katrina.

This talk was delivered at a TEDx event in the TED conference format, but independently organized by a local community. For more information, visit http://ted.com/tedx

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