Bringing TED to Town

You’ve heard of TED—the nonprofit that brings some of the world’s top minds together at annual conferences for the purpose of spreading brilliant ideas. And you’ve probably even seen podcasts (posted at ted.com) of the speeches given at those conferences in 18 minutes or less by the likes of Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, and Philippe Starck.

But did you ever imagine a localized take on TED could come to Charleston? A group of progressive residents did, and today, they announce the call for speakers for the first-ever TEDxMarionSquare, slated for May 15, 2013. Held around the globe, TEDx programs are independently organized events operated under a license from TED. And despite the name—it was the one the folks at TED approved—Charleston’s meeting of the minds will be held at PURE Theatre. The all-day affair will present local speakers along with TEDTalks videos, all revolving around a theme of “Reinvent.”

“The purpose of TEDxMarionSquare is to gather inspiring people with diverse ideas to share the many untold stories of Charleston’s thinkers, visionaries, and fascinating teachers. We are bringing TEDxMarionSquare to Charleston because we truly believe in the power of ideas to change the world,” says Edith Howle, curator of TEDxMarionSquare. “We are looking for speakers who can focus on the unique ways they are reinventing all facets of life in many different areas including: education, science, healthcare, business, technology, entertainment, philanthropy, fashion, food, environment, and more.” 

Want to step up to the stage, or know someone who should? Speaker submissions and nominations are being accepted today through January 4 at tedxmarionsquare.com. If you want to attend, you’ll also need to apply online (from February 1 through March 15), as inaugural TEDx events are limited to an audience of 100. But not to worry, if TEDxMarionSquare is a hit—and it surely will be—the second installment will be open to far more viewers.

To learn more about TEDxMarionSquare, click here.

For more events happening around town, click here.