Through the personal narrative of her own life and experiences, Shermin Kruse explores the traits and skills necessary for every-day people to become global change makers.

Shermin Kruse spent her childhood in Iran dodging rockets and the morality police, immigrated with her family carrying little more than a few suitcases. She is now a partner at the law firm of Barack Ferrazzano, an accomplished negotiator, facilitator, and mediator, the author of the critically acclaimed, best-selling novel Butterfly Stitching, a contributor to the Huffington Post, a director of the ACLU of Illinois, co-founder and director of the peace organization, Pasfarda Arts and Culture Exchange, and a director of the international refugee center Heshima Kenya. Kruse was named nationally by BizWomen Magazine as one of the nation’s top 100 “Women to Watch,” one of Chicago’s most influential women by Chicago Business Journal, and one of Chicago’s Women of Inspiration by Today’s Chicago Magazine. She is also the mother of four children.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx