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Alyssa Fischer and Wairimu Mwangi are developing a framework for the quantification of social and economic impacts of various projects with regard to their sustainability. In this talk, they discuss the necessity for a metric such as this one and the grander concepts behind our research. Alyssa Fischer is a Masters student of Sustainable Engineering at Villanova University. Upon graduation, she will begin work at Environmental Resources Management (ERM) as a Corporate Sustainability Consultant. Her thesis research focuses on how extensive and efficient public transit systems create more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable cities. She received her BA from Bryn Mawr College in 2010 with a major in Growth and Structure of Cities and a concentration in Sustainable Architecture. Her passions include spreading awareness about climate change, biking, exploring new cities and singing. Wairimu Mwangi is a graduate student in the Sustainable Engineering program at Villanova University. Her research interests include life cycle assessments of power generation systems in the context of social and economic development in Kenya. She received her BS in Chemical Engineering from Villanova. She will be working with ERM in sustainability and international development after graduation. Her hobbies include traveling, cooking and spreading environmental awareness. 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)