By Rich Nelson

By now you probably know there is an organization named TED with local offshoots called TEDx. And you may have heard a TEDx event is coming to Tryon on September 12 with more community events planned later in the year by the many volunteers who are creating TEDxTryon.

 

So why invest so much time and energy into TED and TEDx? To learn and be inspired! To bring our community together over new ideas! Just Google ‘The 10 Most Popular TED or TEDx Talks’ to watch some of the most amazing, inspiring talks. Or listen to TED talks on the radio.

 

You’ll hear emergency medical technician Matthew O’Rielly describe how he tells dying patients the truth, musician John Legend singing “True Colors” to combat poverty, marine biologist David Gallo explaining newly discovered facets of the ocean and Pearl Arredondo on transforming a life immersed in gang culture to becoming an outstanding educator.

 

Other fascinating talks include a photographer and a monk in a visually stunning presentation on gratitude, a new invention to prevent Alzheimers patients from wandering, a 12 year old software application developer, and someone who has ‘come out of the closet’ talking about empathy in a new way, explaining “we’re all hiding something.”

 

Our hope in bringing this concept to the Foothills is to find different ways to interact with each other, learn new things, meet new and old neighbors and perhaps address needs and make improvements in our part of the world. And maybe even one of our talks goes ‘viral’ on the TED site and the Internet. So let’s all embrace the TEDxTryon motto, “Live.Inspire.Repeat.”

 

TED is a platform for ideas worth spreading. Started in 1984 as a conference where technology, entertainment and design converged, TED today shares ideas from a broad spectrum — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independent TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. TEDxTryon is a locally organized event and is a special project of the Arts and Education committee of Tryon Fine Arts Center. For information visit TEDxTryon.com or call TFAC at 828-859-8322.