Speakers for the 2016 TEDxTryon event have been selected. Ten thought-leaders from several surrounding counties will present their “ideas worth spreading” on September 10, at Tryon Fine Arts Center. Their topics, ranging from shifting attitudes, to health and fitness and social conventions, are sure to resonate throughout the Foothills community.

 

Bill Miller of Lake Lure is the impetus behind the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge. His talk will reveal how a call to action inspired a group of dedicated volunteers, to transform an abandoned eyesore into a blooming community treasure.

 

Denise Medved of Hendersonville, suggests that maintaining healthy neural pathways can be as simple as child’s play. The internationally known fitness entrepreneur challenges you to change your brain through fun, creative, physical movement, no matter what your age.

 

Dr. Jeff Hendricks of Columbus is a physician with a “less is more” attitude toward healing through less invasive techniques coupled with nutrition. In the world of genetics and epigenetics, discoveries of simple, safe and effective methods help us express the healthiest versions of our genes.

 

Dean Crisp from Mills River is a 30-year law enforcement veteran who proposes a new mindset for police departments. Rethinking police and community interactions can repair the often rocky relationship between law enforcement and those they protect and serve.

 

Kristy Hackler of Sugar Grove has spent her happiest moments making things grow. This educator created a “down on the farm” program for kids that not only produces bumper harvests, but teaches valuable lessons in independence, ingenuity and grit.

 

Jenna Kanell ponders, “What we would be capable of, if no one told us we had limitations?” The award-winning filmmaker examines the pressure to become something, by asking ourselves what would happen if we tried to “unbecome” instead.

 

James Hyrnyshyn of Saluda has been writing about energy and global warming for decades, and addresses a local issue with a global solution. The cleanest, most sustainable, and most responsible way to power our area might lay in a new vision for distributing electricity.

 

Aaron McGinley from Asheville has seen many people, at some point, face social challenges on the internet. People with special needs face an even greater struggle with those often ambiguous digital interactions. He proposes a learning model that supports a basic internet etiquette to help guide us through those murky waters.

 

Robin Funsten of Asheville has a knack for conflict—more specifically, in its successful resolution. She challenges us to look at the inevitable conflicts we face as opportunities for providing positive and lasting change.

 

Basil Savitsky from Asheville is a futurist who revels in the power of memes to motivate us to make positive change. He envisions a protocol for guiding teens into adulthood by helping them develop their personal futures, and supporting them as they craft their preferred reality.

 

For more information about TEDxTryon and our speakers visit our website, TEDxTryon.com. 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.)

 

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at facebook.com/TED or Instagram at instagram.com/ted.

 

-Submitted by Arlene Cassidy