Press Release

Fresh ideas: TEDx event adds a youth contingent

Mountain Xpress
If you’re wondering what all the hoopla about TED and TEDxAsheville is (much less, what the monikers mean), ask local youth. They’re putting on a sister event to the second-annual local conference: TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, a free, four-hour conference scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28.

Xpress asked 18-year-old Estella Cumberford to explain the multimedia, interactive event. One of the youth organizers and also a TEDxNGA, she replies, “It’s about ideas worth sharing… and spreading.”

TED (short for Technology, Entertainment and Design) is a nonprofit organization that started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago. The first-ever, 1984 TED included “demos of the newly released Macintosh computer and Sony compact disc, while mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot demonstrated how to map coastlines with his newly discovered fractals and AI guru Marvin Minsky outlined his powerful new model of the mind,” according to the nonprofit’s website.

TED has since expanded to include local, self-organized events, such as TEDxAsheville and now TEDxNGA. Cumberford couldn’t be more excited to have a chance to be involved. When a friend called to say he had recommended her as a youth participant for the NGA event, she soon joined the team and crafted a presentation of her own, “Walking a Mile in My Shoes.”

Without giving too much away, Cumberford provides a teaser: “My idea is that we humans have evolved with everything we need to enjoy life.” But we’ve lost touch with that fact, she continues. Through the help of modern innovation, “We can reconnect,” Cumberford says.

TED events “invite people who are passionate about something — it doesn’t matter what — and gives them a chance to present their ideas,” says the young woman, who’ll soon journey to England to study digital art and design.

For TEDxNGA, she’s helped organize nearly every aspect of the event, from where and how chairs will be arranged to how to raise money. The youth contributions range from 11-year-old Birke Baehr’s presentation “What's Wrong with Our Food "System?" to a “Rockette’s style” performance by youth members of the Asheville Ballet.

"I'm really excited by the fact that kid's ideas will be heard. …We'll get to hear the passions of other kids, and we will actually be listened to,” adds Julien Melissas, teenage Technical Director and another performer at the event.
Adults, teens and youth collaborate in all the planning and production, working together in creative and innovative ways. “I whole-heartedly believe in the power of young voices being heard, their capacities to be inspiring leaders and their ability to influence positive change,” says Ashley Cooper, executive director of TEDxNGA. “In a subtle and powerful way, we hope the city of Asheville is catalyzed by the ideas of these young people and members of our community are more connected to one another and ready to play and work together in new ways. The event is only a springboard to a much broader movement of collaboration and innovation.”

Or as Cumberford observes, “In our society, some ideas are accepted and some aren’t. But on this stage, with TED, people listen.”

TEDxNGA will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville. The event is free, but registration is required. For a full list of performers, and for more information, visit http://www.TEDxNGA.com, e-mail organizers at , find them on Facebook as TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, or follow them on Twitter at .

TEDxAsheville will be held the next day at the same location, Sunday, Aug. 29. Tickets are $25. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. for the evening conference. For more information, visit http://tedxasheville.com.

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880 The Revolution Radio Interview

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Ideas conference TEDx aims to inspire Asheville's next generation

Asheville-Citizen TImes

An upcoming ideas conference here in Asheville will put the spotlight on young people, their passions and action that may come of that caring.

It's called TEDx Next Generation Asheville, and it will be 3-7 p.m. Aug. 28 at The Orange Peel. The event will feature a group of 11 speakers, who will talk about everything from preventing bullying to spurring social justice through music.

“The push of this event is to give our young people a platform to share their ideas,” says Ashley Cooper, creative executive director of the nonprofit organization. “Our hope is to invite the public to see how much these young people have to contribute in terms of their insight, wisdom and creativity.”

The theme of the event will center on how to turn all that youthful passion into action. Cooper says people who come should be prepared to get engaged. There will be audience discussion sessions and interactive booths to keep the discussion going, she says, and there will be an emphasis on having fun.

“This isn't teens getting up and acting like adults,” Cooper says. “These kids want to integrate fun into what they're doing.”

Cooper is a former school counselor turned activist and community organizer who has her own life and family coaching business. She sees the event as an invigorating new model for education.

“The way that TED marries passionate people with people who can build on those ideas is a great formula for learning,” says Cooper, who would like to see a TEDx youth day held at every school in Buncombe County.

TEDx Next Generation Asheville will be held the day before the adult version of the local conference, TEDx Asheville, which was held for the first time last year. Both conferences are a locally organized version of the popular California-based conference held each year known simply as TED, which stands for technology, entertainment and design.

TEDx Next Generation is a free event, but you have to have a ticket to get in, and the organization wants people to register so they can stay connected. To get a ticket, send an e-mail to .

This is the opinion of Jason Sandford. Contact him at 232-5851 or . Find Ashvegas updates online at CITIZEN-TIMES.com/ashvegas and the full blog at www.ashvegas.com.

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TEDxNextGenerationAsheville's Creative Executive Director Ashley Cooper and Presenters Nate Wilcox-Pettit and David Rudow are interviewed on WNCW! They talk a about TEDxNGA, and what we're all about.

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TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, August 28th, 2010, 3-7pm

The Next Step: Teenagers Inspiring Positive Change

TEDxNGA announces an exciting list of youth presenters and performers for an event at the Orange Peel

TEDxNextGenerationAsheville (TEDxNGA) is thrilled to announce a dynamic group of 11-19 year olds who will present their ideas for the future to an audience ready to be inspired at Asheville's first ever TEDx event for youth. Teenagers around the world are inspiring positive change and it is time to learn from them.

TEDxNGA will be an interactive, multi-media event held on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville. It will spotlight some of the region's most creative young people and their “ideas worth spreading.” This event is an opportunity for Asheville's young people to stand tall and share their biggest dreams, demonstrate their most audacious ideas and join together to make positive change in our world.

"I'm really excited by the fact that kid's ideas will be heard. That's what I'm most excited about. We'll get to hear the passions of other kids and we will actually be listened to,” noted Julien Melissas, teenage Technical Director and one of the performers at the event. He added, “The opportunity to collaborate with other adults in planning the event has really showed me how much kids can step up to the plate."

Adults and teens collaborate in all the planning and production, working together in creative and innovative ways. TEDxNGAis sparking deep discussion and inspiration that will serve as a springboard to action- an opportunity for growth, learning and fun for our entire community!

“I whole-heartedly believe in the power of young voices being heard, their capacities to be inspiring leaders and their ability to influence positive change,” commented Ashley Cooper, Executive Director of TEDxNGA. “In a subtle and powerful way, we hope the city of Asheville is catalyzed by the ideas of these young people and members of our community are more connected to one another and ready to play and work together in new ways. The event is only a springboard to a much broader movement of collaboration and innovation.”

Presentation Topics, Presenters and Performers Include:
Presenters

  • The Simplicity of Awareness - Estella Cumberford, 18 years-old
  • What's Wrong with Our Food "System"? And How We Can Make a Difference - Birke Baehr, 11 years-old
  • School Mods: Gaming the Educational System - Jonathan Schenker, 16 years-old
  • Youth Leadership in Our Community - Chase Pickering, 23 years old, Adult Speaker
  • Bullying Prevention: Everyone Needs a Helping Hand - Martel Jackson and Andrea Griffin, 17 years-old
  • Social Justice Through Music - Miranda Norlin, 14 years-old
  • Our Universal Connection - Duvey Rudow, 17 years-old
  • Why Does Music Make Me Feel So Good? - Nate Wilcox-Pettit, 17 years-old
  • Filmmaking and Creative Adaptation - Emery McGaha and Ross Marnock, 15 years-old

Performers

  • I Have a Dream - Anthony Jones and Shawn Austin, 12 years-old
  • Numatik - Summit Jaffe, 14 years-old
  • Bliss Dub - Lucas Trotman, Ryan Finder, Laith Inkidar and Julien Melissas, 17-18 years old
  • Jazz The Ripper - Julian Samal, Joe Hamilton, Will Newman, James Hamilton, Ted Marks, Jordan Arnold, 15-19 years-old
  • I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise: a Rockettes-style Tribute to the Optimism and Potential of Youth to Build a Better World. - Youth Members of The Asheville Ballet, Ann Dunn Director and Choreographer Ann Dunn. Dancers 11-19 years-old

Emcees

  • Peter McDowell, 19 years-old
  • Becca Steinhoff, 22 years-old

Media Notes: For more information on attending the event or to arrange an interview with TEDxNGA please contact Jaime Matthews at or .

TEDxNGA is working in conjunction with TEDxAsheville. The two events are sister events, happening on August 28 and 29, both committed to (and approved by) TED and Ideas Worth Sharing. TEDxAsheville will be an all ages event with content geared to an adult audience.

For more information on the presentations and presenters please visit our website www.TEDxNGA.com or email us at . You can also find us on Facebook as TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, or on Twitter at .

ABOUT TEDx
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED created a program it calls TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxAsheville, where “x” = an independently organized TED event. At TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection within the audience. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

ABOUT TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani,Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, selforganized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at , or on Facebook at .

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Teenagers around the world are inspiring positive change. They are the next generation of thinkers, artists, scientists, social activists and entrepreneurs. Applying their creativity, wisdom and innovative thinking, these young leaders are dreaming of new possibilities and putting their ground-breaking ideas into action. It's time to learn from them.

TEDxNextGenerationAsheville (TEDxNGA) is an interactive, multi-media event on August 28th, 2010 that will spotlight some of the region's most creative young people and their “ideas worth spreading.” A dynamic group of 12-19 year olds will present their ideas for the future to an audience ready to be inspired at Asheville's first ever TEDx event for youth. This event is an opportunity for Asheville's young people to stand tall and share their biggest dreams, demonstrate their most audacious ideas and join together to make positive change in our world.

This initiative goes beyond the event on August 28th. We invite youth to participate in creative and artistic projects leading up to the event, join the organizing and production team, and apply to present or perform. Adults and teens collaborate in all the planning and production, working together in creative and innovative ways. TEDxNGA is sparking deep discussion and inspiration through pre-event projects and will continue to do so with videos, live speaking presentations and performances at the event. This initiative is about connecting, collaborating and spreading youth’s big ideas for positive change, while helping youth learn to articulate and share their wisdom.

Apply To Present: Deadline May 15th

TEDxNGA is accepting applications for presenters and performers at the website www.TEDxNextGenerationalAsheville.com. After submitting a Presenter form, interested presenters will receive various resources to assist in successful submissions by our May 15 deadline. Teens can also be nominated to present through the website. Teens applying to present must either submit a 5 minute video of them performing or presenting or they may attend an audition on May 16th, 2010.

Teens: We Want to Hear From YOU

What are you passionate about? What inspires you? Do you see new possibilities for making the world a better place? What idea do you have that you want to tell the world?

Whether you are exploring ideas for alternative energy, developing iPhone applications, playing in a band, dreaming of ways to make school more interesting, designing systems, producing movies, writing screenplays, contemplating animal rights, creating new clubs or doodling madly in your sketchpad, TEDxNextGenerationAsheville is excited to know more! What sets you on fire to such a degree that you’re willing to put together a powerful presentation and go public, sharing your passion and vision with Asheville and the greater world?

We want to hear from you. We want to know what you care about. We want to know what you love to do. We want to know you, and we want to be inspired by how your ideas can help create positive change, address some of our community’s problems, or better the world in innovative and imaginative ways.

Please find us on , on Twitter at , visit our website TEDxNextGenerationAsheville.com or email us at .

ABOUT TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED created a program it calls TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxAsheville, where “x” = an independently organized TED event. At TEDxNextGenerationAsheville, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection within the audience. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.

ABOUT TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani,Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at , or on Facebook at .

TEDGlobal 2010, "And Now the Good News," will be held July 13-16, 2010, in Oxford, UK. TED2011, "The Rediscovery of Wonder," will be held February 28-March 4, 2011, in Long Beach, California, with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs, California.

TEDxNextGenerationAsheville is a operated under license from TED. It is not being organized by the TED conference and is an independently organized TED event.

All press requests should be sent to .

Ashley Cooper is the the official spokesperson for TEDxNextGenerationAsheville.

Please note that TEDx event organizers are not able to speak for the TED Conference. Any inquiry regarding TED should be sent to:

Laura Galloway
Head of Media Relations

While we appreciate any coverage, we kindly ask that all journalists and/or bloggers be respectful of the difference between the TED and TEDx brands.

Please note that the 'x' in 'TEDx' stands for "independently organized events." Any headline or text which implies "TED" is coming to Asheville is misleading.

For more information on TED and TEDx, please click here.