On April 28, Central Oregon will become part of a world-wide movement to empower and inspire communities through global education and dialogue. Bending Rules, a half day TEDx event in Bend, will feature several extraordinary presenters representing both local and international perspectives.
What is TED? TED (technology, entertainment and design) began in 1984 as a conference to promote “thought-provoking ideas that are worth spreading.” Over the years the concept has expanded to reach broader audiences and evolved into three annual events with two conferences taking place in California (Long Beach and Palm Springs) and a third in Edinburgh UK.
Today, in addition to the annual conferences, TED inspires independently planned and coordinated TEDx events in communities around the world.
TED’s celebrated format found online is a suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances (live or just TEDTalks videos from TED.com) on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder — and to provoke conversations that matter.
The talks are brilliant, inspirational and thought provoking, but nothings beats the buzz of a live TEDx event and it’s right here in Bend at the end of this month.
Jim Schell, director of development for Partnership to End Poverty and one of the TEDxBend event champions explains that Bend Rules is based on the idea that most roadblocks and conventions are merely perceived or self-imposed. “Bending Rules challenges us to re-think what’s truly possible,” Schell said.
At TEDx each presenter will deliver a short (five to eighteen minute) talk, demonstration or performance designed to inspire, provide actionable ideas and spark deep conversations and connections.
Bend’s event includes Blake Canterbury, the founder and CEO of beremedy – the simplest way to help other people. beremedy uses social media to connect those in need with those that can help. It’s based on the concept that there are the resources in every community to meet the needs of that community. beremedy has been named one of the “three best twitter usages worldwide” by CNN.
Raj Dhingra is a twenty-year veteran of the technology industry with an extensive track record of building strong, sustainable and profitable industry leadership positions in new and emerging categories. Prior to joining NComputing in April 2011, Raj was VP and GM at Citrix where he led the company’s desktop virtualization business from zero to half a billion dollars growth in sales over a three year period.
Well-known to Central Oregon as an inspiring African-American civil rights leader, Myrlie Evers-Williams is a distinguished Scholar-in-Residence at Alcorn State University who for decades has broken barriers of racial and gender inequality in the workplace, in government and in society.
David Hume Kennerly is a native Oregonian who won the 1972 Pulitzer Prize for his photos of the Vietnam War, was President Gerald R. Ford’s personal photographer and is an Emmy–nominated film producer. He was executive producer and principal photographer of Barack Obama: The Official Inaugural Book.
Wren LaFeet is the founder of Nomad Dance, created with the mission to re-establish social partner dance as an integral component of popular culture. With Nomad Dance, he offers the experience and the opportunity to learn the skills of connection, non-verbal communication and how partner dance contributes to the creation of a conscious culture.
As the CEO of Freedom Personal Development, Eric Plantenberg of Bend shows people from all walks of life how to make a greater impact in all areas of their lives. Eric has an uncanny ability to take things from concept to reality. He believes that when one person lives a life of Purpose, the entire world becomes a better place because of it.
After working as a volunteer with children in Zambia in 2005, Malerie Pratt, a college student and native of Bend, realized that something needed to be done to help orphaned children in vulnerable and abusive situations. She helped found a non-profit organization called VIMA LUPWA HOMES, raising funds to build the first home, not an institution, but a family-style home.
Sidney Rittenberg has known every Chinese leader: Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, the notorious “Gang of Four,” Deng Xiaoping and the present president and premier. The Army trained Sidney in Chinese Studies during World War II, and sent him to China. 16 of Sidney’s 35 years in China were spent as a prisoner in solitary confinement on charges of being an American spy. He was freed in 1977 and eulogized by the post-Cultural Revolution Chinese government as a true friend of China. A feature documentary The Revolutionary has just been completed on Sidney Rittenberg’s life.
The April 28 event will take place in the Summit High School beginning at 12 noon. Tickets are $55. To attend TEDxBend go to www.tedxbend.com. We hope to see you there. pha
