Stacy Cruz
Staff Writer
Technology, Education, Design, or TED, hosted a conference event on Nov. 16, at Manhattan Beach Middle School to have local TED speakers give speeches.
TED conferences provide speakers who discuss their passions, beliefs, or lessons in the form of a TED Talk, or a speech limited to eighteen minutes. The theme of the Manhattan Beach TEDx was “Imagine That!”. This is the fourth consecutive year that TEDx ideas have been spread to the Manhattan Beach community.
“It was a great way to hear about some of the amazing things that people are doing,” Spanish teacher Felise Shapiro said. “It was very inspirational.”
TED’s mission and slogan is “ideas worth spreading” and they host TEDx events throughout communities all over the world to extend the ideas and messages of several TED speakers.
“TEDx in Manhattan Beach was definitely a learning experience,” sophomore Pooja Nagpal said. “It gave our community insight on so many different professions in science, technology, and even a path in the arts.”
The sixteen speakers at TEDx were local workers, performers, authors, producers, artists and architects. Some speakers included psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman, jazz pianist David Benoir, musical performers Mad Fortune, and Producer of Modern Family Danny Zuker. These speakers spoke to share their talents and occupations with their audiences.
“The entire event, and hopefully my talk as well, invited people to see the world a little differently,” Installation Artist and Architect, and TEDx speaker Allison Wright said. “By doing so we can be inspired to take action of our own.”
TEDx had an audience of all ages, but according to Isabel Mullin it was especially insightful for parents of high school children.
“I was excited by the programming, and glad that my child had the opportunity to have an experience that showed different perspectives.” Mullin said.
The speeches given by the TEDx speakers are online for worldwide viewing. This allows the ideas of the local speakers to reach out beyond the Manhattan Beach community.
“The internet gives the talks a global presence,” Wright said. “I found myself wondering on a few occasions what people in landlocked countries like Rwanda or even Switzerland would make of my references to surfing which is so common to people in Manhattan Beach.”
With the success of the last four TEDx Manhattan Beach conferences, TEDx MB is already planning their Nov. 2014 conference.
“I’ve watched TEDx online, and the ideas are so new and inspiring, it gives you a great new perspective on living life to the fullest.” junior Brianna Ornelas said. “I definitely plan to go to next year’s TEDx.”
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