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TED talks are sweeping the internet—and the globe—with well thought out, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances covering a range of subjects geared towards learning, motivation and innovation. TED started in 1984, bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment and Design. Today, TED talks encompass many other topics from agricultural innovations to magic to new forms of energy. If you think of it, chances are there is a TED talk about it. These 18-minute lectures are viewable online, and more recently in themed packs through Netflix. TED talks are more than a person flipping through slides though.
The second annual TEDxToledo '13 ReIMAGINE event will be held on Thursday, September 19 at One Seagate. Last year, attendees called it "the ultimate brain spa, in the company of those creating it. This year the theme is 'reIMAGINE.' What this means in essence is setting our course ahead, taking on new challenges, and not allowing the unknown to confine us to what we were.
The curator for TEDxToledo, Will Lucas says, "for a long time, the technology community here was essentially disjointed—everyone worked in their own little worlds. The tech community didn't associate with the business community as much as it should. The business community didn't associate with the science community as much as it should. The science community didn't talk to the arts. We set out to change that."
TED Talks have been viewed more than one billion times online. The thought-evoking talks are often as entertaining as they are informative.
In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TEDx is a program just like the TED Talks you’ve seen online that gives the opportunity to share ideas through a local level. The “x” indicates that it is an independently organized event. (They receive guidance from the TED conference.)
These will not be your standard Tony Robbins self-help, lofty motivational speeches—expect real people from the Toledo area talking about real problems, and solutions that work. Though Bill Gates may not be speaking at this event, you’re sure to experience thought-provoking concepts from local Toledo visionaries and leaders. For example, one of the speakers this year, Taylor Dungjen, is kind of a big deal. If you haven’t heard of her, she’s the renowned crime blogger and reporter who convinced members of the most notorious inner-city gang in Toledo to spend time with her in their neighborhood while she was covering the “Battle Lines: Gangs of Toledo” story for The Blade.
Dungjen joins other notable locals at TEDxToledo. Gabrielle Seay was a leader in the effort to win the State of Ohio for President Obama. Tedd Long is considered an area historian, and he’s been involved in a number of documentaries for “Toledo Stories” on WGTE.
Other speakers include: Mike Beazley, Jefferson Nelson, Romules Durant, Ben Morales, Dean Tartaglia, Brian Kennedy, Kurt Bench, Dave Beckwith, Molly R. Thompson, Andre Ballard, Crystal Phelps, Randy Oostra, Julian Davies, Paul Sullivan, Adam Mahler, Mike Osswald, Dan Johnson and Dave Schlaudecker.
The event takes place at One Seagate Auditorium. Thursday, September 19, 2013, 10AM-5PM. Be sure to get your tickets before it’s sold out at tedxtoledo.com
