TEDxMtHood Salon - The Stories That Govern Capital
About This Salon
We are living in a hinge moment.
Climate disruption is no longer abstract for Oregon. Wildfire seasons lengthen. Summers grow hotter and drier. Infrastructure strain is structural, not hypothetical.
At the same time, billions in climate-aligned philanthropic capital remain governed by long-standing norms designed for stability, preservation, and caution.
This Salon asks a disciplined question: What assumptions are quietly shaping how climate capital moves — and how might those assumptions be influencing urgency, risk tolerance, and responsibility?
The evening begins with a short talk by impact founder and capital architect Kasem Rodriguez Mohsen exploring how stories, metaphors and language harden into governance norms — and how systems maintain inertia until those norms are tested by failure.
The facilitated dialogue that follows applies that lens directly to Oregon’s climate capital ecosystem.
Not to solicit commitments.
Not to produce pledges.
But to examine how inherited narratives guide deployment decisions — including preservation logic, fiduciary interpretation, and the psychology of “dry powder.”
Participants will leave with:
Greater clarity on the mental models shaping climate capital behavior
A clearer view of Oregon’s collective philanthropic leverage
A grounded read on whether this moment calls for reinterpretation of long-held deployment norms
Attendance is intentionally limited to preserve candor and seriousness of inquiry.
Appetizers and beverages will be provided
About Kasem Rodriguez Mohsen
Kasem Rodriguez Mohsen is a capital systems architect working at the intersection of philanthropy, venture capital, and public funding. He helps foundations, investors, and institutions move beyond grants-as-default and toward investment strategies that align capital with real-world outcomes. As the founder of LION Strategies and a partner at Willohsen Capital, Kasem designs and deploys innovative funding models—including mission-related and program-related investments—to unlock capital for entrepreneurs tackling complex social and climate challenges. His work spans ecosystem design, governance, and the cultural shifts required for institutions to take intelligent risk. Previously an exited founder and former data scientist working with elite teams across the U.S. and U.K. defense systems, Kasem brings a rare blend of analytical rigor and human-centered design to finance. His work asks a simple but disruptive question: what if capital actually did the job it was meant to do?
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A note on parking:
The Karl Miller Center is at 615 SW Harrison St. Enter the building at the SW Broadway entrance where you can check in. Street parking is available on campus, and PSU parking structures also have designated levels for paid public parking.
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About TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).