This interview is part of our Volunteer Spotlight Series.

Chandra Farley is the meetings and events manager for Southface, a nonprofit organization that has been promoting energy-, water- and resource-efficient workplaces, homes and communities throughout the Southeast for more than 30 years.

She also volunteers as the communications director for Architecture for Humanity/Atlanta. “I’m a designer by trade with a degree in fine arts,” she said. “I know how good design can transform people’s lives.” The mission of one of the local chapter projects is to build and install bus shelters for MARTA.  The designs come from an annual competition, which will eventually benefit the areas where ridership is high but the ad revenue that drives shelter placement is low.

Chandra found out about TED when Cameron Sinclair, the founder of Architecture for Humanity, won the TED prize in 2006. At TEDxPeachtree, she handles event logistics by securing the space, managing the volunteers, and coordinating plans with the caterer and other vendors.

“This organization energizes me and feeds my soul,” she said. “We often get caught up in the day-to-day stuff. Social media helps us connect with other like-minded people but it’s not enough. A live TEDxPeachtree event brings together a wide variety of people with many perspectives. It gives us an opportunity to indulge in innovative thinking and exchange amazing ideas. To go beyond asking ‘Why?’ and instead ask ‘Why not?’  I know great things will come from every gathering.”