TEDTalks are not foreign to the University of Memphis. Plenty of them have been shown in various classes all over campus, but the popular series is about to get a little closer than a just a projector or computer screen.
The U of M will host the first annual TEDxMemphis event on Aug. 29 in the Rose Theater.
“I’m anticipating the attendees’ getting to hear the speakers and speakers’ talks,” said Luke Jensen, who serves as the organizer of this event along with 18-year old Patton Orr. “I’m hoping that those TEDTalks will generate at the event and in the community.”
TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, began in 1984 as a conference covering those subjects, but eventually expanded to cover a variety of topics TED is also a nonprofit by spreading and sharing ideas in the form of short, yet powerful talks.
However, TEDx events are somewhat of a separate entity from TED.
TEDx events are independent, self-organized and are focus on individual communities.
TEDxMemphis started two years ago by 18-year old Patton Orr, a senior at Memphis University School. Since he wasn’t able to organize and host it by himself due to his age, he sought the help of Luke Jensen, an associate with the Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors’ Capital Markets Group who also an alumnus of MUS, as well.
“Together Patton and I attended TEDActive 2014 in Whistler, British Columbia and we applied to host TEDxMemphis,” said Jensen. “Not too long later, we got approval from TED to host TEDxMemphis and the rest is history. We really can’t believe our event is finally here.”
Jensen and Orr also have been working alongside U of M alumna Anna Mullins, who serves as the director for the event.
“We’ve been working so hard,” Mullins said. “For the last six months we’ve been putting everything together. We thought it was going to be on a smaller scale, but we’re so excited to see that it’s grown from 200 to 1,000 people attending.”
This particular TEDTalk will feature 17 speakers from all over Memphis ranging from U of M professors, pastors, CEOs and local artists.
Local Memphis rapper and art enthusiast Marco Pavé, 22, will be one of the featured speakers.
“This is one of my biggest dreams to be speaking at a TEDTalk,” said Pavé. “My talk will be entitled “Arts Entrepreneurship: From Hobbyists to Lobbyists and will just be encouraging people to continue to pour into our young people and fund them in their arts.”
Unfortunatly, the event is at its full capacity with 920 people filling up the Rose Theater.
“My hope is that people will leave TEDxMemphis informed and inspired,” said Jensen. “I hope that the conference sparks a dialogue that will lead to a positive change in the community of Memphis and across the country.”
