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Nathan Adams<\/strong>, Poet and Cultural Reformer, Evensville, Tennessee Kevin Bate<\/strong>, Muralist and Curator, The McCallie Walls Project, Chattanooga, Tennessee Victoria M. Bryan<\/strong>, Instructor, Cleveland State Community College, Chattanooga, Tennessee James Chapman<\/strong>, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Causeway, and Founder, Change-N-Go, Chattanooga, Tennessee Hill Craddock<\/strong>, Professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Director, Chattanooga Chestnut Tree Project, Chattanooga, Tennessee Marcus Ellsworth<\/strong>, President, Tennessee Valley Pride, Host, Wide Open Floor at Barking Legs Theater, Chattanooga, Tennessee Robert Fisher<\/strong>, UTC Student Government Association President, Clarksville, Tennessee Jason Michaels<\/strong>, \u201cThe CardShark,\u201d Nashville, Tennessee Lyn Miles<\/strong>, Professor of Anthropology, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Director, Project Chantek, Chattanooga, Tennessee Lesley Scearce<\/strong>, President and CEO, On Point-Direction For Life, Chattanooga, Tennessee Jackson Stone<\/strong>, Computer Science student and app innovator, Cleveland Tennessee Kim White<\/strong>, President and CEO, River City Company, Chattanooga, Tennessee About TEDx, x = independently organized event<\/strong><\/p>\n In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)<\/p>\n About TED<\/strong>\u2028<\/strong> TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; and TEDBooks, short e-books on powerful ideas. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.<\/p>\n Follow TED on Twitter at http:\/\/twitter.com\/TEDTalks<\/a>, or on Facebook at http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TED<\/a><\/p>\n For information about TED’s upcoming conferences, visit http:\/\/www.ted.com\/registration<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The organizers of the first TEDxUTChattanooga are proud to announce the slate of speakers for this year\u2019s event. TEDxUTChattanooga will be held Saturday, October 25, 2014, at the Dorothy Hackett Ward Theatre at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Earlier this year, TEDxUTChattanooga invited nominations for speakers to offer short talks by a select, diverse… <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/files\/2014\/09\/screen-shot-2014-10-02-at-11.09.52-AM-928x1024.png\")
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\nSelected to speak at TEDxUTChattanooga 2014 are:<\/h2>\n
\nMastered to Master: Restoring the Power of Words<\/strong>\u2014A dyslexic, Adams wants to challenge listeners to think differently about words. How is language, something that is so core to the human being experience, so\u00a0carelessly tossed around, or even worse, distorted beyond recognition? The power of words and the importance of thinking well need to be reconsidered and reclaimed.<\/p>\n
\nMcCallie Walls Mural Project: The World\u2019s First Drive Through Gallery<\/strong>\u2014When was the last time you saw something beautiful on your drive to work? One day, driving on McCallie, Bate found himself thinking, \u201cWouldn\u2019t it be better if this weren\u2019t ugly?\u201d A Chattanooga-based muralist, Bates knows the power of public art and that an ugly area is no place to live.<\/p>\n
\nHigher Education in Prison: What\u2019s Next for Chattanooga\u2019s Incarcerated Population<\/strong>\u2014The Nashville-based Tennessee Higher Education Initiative aims to bring for-credit college education to incarcerated individuals and hopes to expand into Chattanooga and the surrounding areas. Bryan argues that if we are truly to be progressive and innovative, we need to educate all our residents\u2014free or otherwise.<\/p>\n
\nCreate a Culture of Selflessness<\/strong>\u2014Chapman proposes that the only way to maximize our overall talent is to be completely selfless. We must think of ourselves as one neighborhood, one community. We are only as strong as our weakest link. We cannot be so concerned with being the best individuals that we forget to assist those who live, work, and play with us.<\/p>\n
\nThe Return of the Chestnut: A Tree Crop Archetype<\/strong>\u2014In 1904, a pandemic struck the American chestnut; one of the worst ecological disasters of the 20th<\/sup> century. Much scientific effort has been focused on breeding a tree that combines disease resistance with timber form and other important adaptive characteristics. The return of the chestnut tree to the forest will depend on the concerted efforts of citizens and scientists working together.<\/p>\n
\nArt as Activism<\/strong>\u2014How can art become a road map for progress? Citing examples from world history as well as Chattanooga today, Ellsworth will pose the idea that one of the best ways to answer that question is by looking at the creative output of Chattanooga\u2019s citizens. The answers can be found in the music, writing, and even the graffiti of our most under-served populations. We can use art to engage in meaningful discussions and purposeful action to make Chattanooga better for everyone.<\/p>\n
\nEquity or Optics for Chattanooga?<\/strong>\u2014Why rest on the notion of the being the Scenic City? Leading with scenic merely suggests a commitment to optics\u2014a vision of Chattanooga that invites ohs and ahs. But what if we committed ourselves to being the City of Equity? What if we found value in the many people, places, and ideas that make us Chattanooga, as opposed to arbitrarily picking\u00a0which culture received our time and attention? At this critical juncture in our journey towards being a regional powerhouse, the model for mid-sized cities across America, we have to choose between meaningful progress towards socio-economic equality or settling for appearances. Simply put, as Chattanoogans we have to choose: Equity or Optics.<\/p>\n
\nYou Can Do the Impossible, Too<\/strong>\u2014What would the world look like if you could do the impossible? Michaels shares his own deeply personal story of doing the impossible: overcoming the debilitating neurological disorder Tourette\u2019s Syndrome to become an international award-winning entertainer. He also shares mind-boggling \u201cImpossibilities\u201d from his repertoire of magic and illusion to inspire his audience to overcome challenges in their own lives.<\/p>\n
\nChantek, the First Orangutan Person<\/strong>\u2014Chantek is special. He communicates with signs, makes up his own words, and even tells lies! He creates tools and beautiful jewelry and paintings, and asks for car rides. He is sentient, autonomous, self-aware, emotionally complex, and incredibly intelligent\u2014the only problem is that he is an orangutan. Chantek and other \u201cenculturated\u201d apes make up a new category of \u201cpersons of the nonhuman kind,\u201d needing special protection and culture-based sanctuaries.<\/p>\n
\nA Failure of Imagination? Changing the Conversation about Chattanooga\u2019s Youth<\/strong>\u2014We live in the richest nation in the world, yet many of our youth can\u2019t imagine a hopeful future. Lawmakers and influencers make decisions that impact youth, but rarely do we ask for or listen to the voices of those we hope to affect. Let\u2019s shift our focus from \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with youth?\u201d to \u201cWhat\u2019s right with youth?\u201d Imagine a city that SPARKS passion in youth, empowers their VOICES for change, and fosters positive RELATIONSHIPS.<\/p>\n
\nCaptivating Software Design<\/strong>\u2014Software is now ubiquitous in the modern work place, and over the years, the power of these programs has increased drastically in terms of what they can do. However, an aspect of design that has not been developed with the same positive trend is the actual experience of using these programs. Our workplace software can do great things, but using most of them is a dull, draining, and frequently frustrating experience. Can this be fixed, and is it worth the effort? This talk will argue \u201cyes,\u201d and give start points for achieving more captivating software design.<\/p>\n
\nNow What\u2026in the Life of Our City?<\/strong>\u2014Cities just like people are always evolving. Chattanooga has a 30-year history of re-invention and looking ahead but what do we see on the horizon<\/em>?\u00a0 In the 1980s, we asked these questions out of crises. Today we do so in anticipation of the next big thing.\u00a0Who are we poised to become as a city? \u00a0Citizen engagement has played a major role in Chattanooga\u2019s renaissance and why we are unique today.<\/p>\n
\nTED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California almost 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes on a diverse mix of topics. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The TED2014 Conference takes place in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with the TEDActive simulcast in neighboring Whistler. TEDGlobal 2014 will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.<\/p>\n