I’m so glad TEDx was has an established presence in Des Moines. Whenever I get a chance to attend one of their events, I clear my calendar!
TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, under the slogan “ideas worth spreading”. TED was founded in 1984 as a one-off event. The annual conference began in 1990, in Monterey, California. Wikipedia
Created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis. TEDx
Our local events are usually a combination of local speakers and videos of past TED talks. Last week’s TEDx Des Moines Women event attempted to LIVE STREAM talks over the lunch hour, but had some difficulties. Instead, they had local female leaders introduce their favorite TED talks which we watched together as an audience. Here’s what we watched in case you couldn’t attend:
Martha Willits‘ favorite video: Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter…
“If I should have a daughter, instead of Mom, she’s gonna call me Point B … ” began spoken word poet Sarah Kay, in a talk that inspired two standing ovations at TED2011. She tells the story of her metamorphosis — from a wide-eyed teenager soaking in verse at New York’s Bowery Poetry Club to a teacher connecting kids with the power of self-expression through Project V.O.I.C.E. — and gives two breathtaking performances of “B” and “Hiroshima.”
Teri Wood TeBockhorst‘s favorite video: Rory Sutherland: Life lessons from an ad man
Advertising adds value to a product by changing our perception, rather than the product itself. Rory Sutherland makes the daring assertion that a change in perceived value can be just as satisfying as what we consider “real” value — and his conclusion has interesting consequences for how we look at life.
Tracey Kelley’s favorite video: Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability
Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.
What’s your favorite TED Talk?
