School hosts annual TEDxManhattanBeach

Attendees of the TEDx Conference experience virtual reality at the DIRTT Environmental Solutions table in the exhibition hall. Attendees of the conference were free to explore the exhibition hall and learn more about the exhibits that interested them.

By Madeleine Powell

Staff Writer

Mira Costa hosted the annual TEDxManhattanBeach conference today from 9:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the auditorium and cafeteria.

Speakers presented their original talks in the auditorium, each focusing on the event’s central topic and theme, “What if…?” Manhattan Beach resident Malissia Clinton was one of the speakers who talked about the tragedy she faced in February 2015 when her family’s home was fire bombed in a suspected hate crime. She spoke of her work to turn that tragedy into an opportunity to educate others and keep their community safe for everyone, regardless of race.

“So many people came up to me, giving me hugs, telling me how amazing [it was what] my mother had just done,” freshman Rachel Clinton said. “I think that [her talk] is going to help bring the community together even more, because she talked about a better tomorrow.”

Visit the TEDxManhattan Beach Website for more information on past speakers and next year’s conference.

In addition, TEDx attendees visited an exposition hall where volunteers presented exhibits designed to provoke new thoughts and ideas in attendees. Businesses such as Pages, a bookstore in Manhattan Beach, participated in the exposition, as well as students in Mira Costa’s Science Olympiad and Chemistry Club. The hall also allowed attendees to participate in a community art project where participants sewed buttons onto a backdrop of the MB pier.

Photo Essay: 2016 Manhattan Beach TEDx Conference.

“You’re reminded just how much the community is interconnected,” TEDx host Paul Silva said. “You get people thinking about stuff they don’t usually think about.”