Event Hosts "Ideas Worth Spreading"

For 20 years, TED (technology, entertainment and design) conferences have been honoring the slogan “ideas worth spreading” by staging talks with engaging speakers and making them available to view online. A group of enterprising Tulane students have put together their own TEDx event, which is a grassroots version of a TED conference.

TEDxTU will take place on Monday (Nov. 22) from 6 until 8 p.m. in the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall of the Lavin-Bernick Center.

“We want to achieve two things at TEDxTU,” says Laura White, a junior majoring in political economy and an event organizer. “First, we want to inspire the greater Tulane and New Orleans community to take action in their everyday lives to improve our community and the world. Second, we want them to collaborate in that effort, forming communities of change-makers with diverse perspectives and talents.”

Speaking at the event will be Tulane students and faculty, along with a number of local social entrepreneurs, including the founder a company that produces biodegradable flip-flops, the co-founder of a teacher support group, the executive director of a training kitchen for at-risk youth, and the founder of a photography collective with a positive message.

“It will be an evening of storytelling from a variety of inspiring people, from entrepreneurs to educators, public service professionals to students,” says White.

A reception will follow the two-hour event, which is free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested.