Drum Roll Please…
The moment we’ve all been waiting for is here: TEDxDetroit 2012 has finally arrived! We hope that the “sneak peek” blog posts previewing our dynamic speakers have gotten you as fired up as we are and we’re looking forward to seeing our speakers live and in action on the big stage in less than 24 hours.
Every year requires hundreds of hours of planning and preparation, but experiencing the magic of TEDxDetroit makes every minute spent worth it. We truly hope you enjoy tomorrow’s event and leave inspired to create some more positive ideas for Detroit and beyond.
Remember, even if you can’t make the event, you can still be involved. If you’re on Twitter, we encourage you to follow @TEDxDetroit and participate in the conversation at #TEDxDetroit, where TEDx-ers will be keeping you up-to-date on all of the great happenings. Also, we’ll be posting videos and photos from the day on the TEDxDetroit website, so be sure to check it out.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow at the Gem Theater!
Nature-Inspired Industrial Design, Born in the Heart of Detroit
Not surprisingly, artists, writers and musicians have long been moved by nature and often incorporated nature-inspired elements into their work. But what may seem unexpected is that scientists, architects and engineers will often look to nature to help guide their latest innovations.For upcoming TEDxDetroit speaker Anthony Reale, this inspiration hit as he was developing his senior project from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Inspired by the activity and appearance of the Basking Shark, which spends 18 hours a day swimming with its mouth open, sifting for food, Anthony was able to develop “Strait Power,” a highly efficient redesign of water-powered turbine generators (for the tech geeks out there, we recommend checking out Anthony’s fascinating video explanation).
Anthony’s design caused quite a stir and a 900-lb model was soon tested at the University of Michigan’s Marine Hydrodynamics Laboratory (MHL). The team at MHL conducted rigorous tests, confirming that Strait Power improved the turbine efficiency by 40 percent.
Needless to say, the project has taken off and continues to build momentum, receive funding and earn spots at prestigious events around the globe.
Straight Power looks to bring a brighter, and greener, future for Detroit and this Friday, we’re excited to hear from the mastermind himself, as he shares his project and where these exciting innovations are headed!
Defining the true entrepreneurial spirit of Detroit
Entrepreneurship is an essential driver for economic rebirth and growth, and the TEDxDetroit community is always eager to hear from brilliant movers and shakers who are impacting our region.
One of this year’s speakers, Marlo Rencher, is not only an entrepreneur by trade as the founder of GoodSweat and the former managing director at TechTown, but an entrepreneur by study. Currently preparing to defend her PhD in Business Anthropology from Wayne State University, Marlo has devoted years to studying organizational culture, people in business and how regional elements can dramatically impact entrepreneurship.
When you look at the foundation of entrepreneurship, there is not a lone template that applies across all cities and regions. For instance, entrepreneurship in Detroit will look a lot different than in Los Angeles, Chicago or New York City, largely due to its blue collar roots in the automotive industry. Like people, cities and regions have personalities, and according to Marlo, these personalities greatly impact how new businesses are established and supported.
For years, Marlo has committed herself to learning about and supporting budding entrepreneurs in Detroit. We’re so excited to hear what insights she has to share on such an important issue for the city!
Understanding the Real Meaning of Work/Life Balance
Nawal Motawi, founder of Motawi Tileworks based in Ann Arbor, creates beautiful hand-crafted art tiles inspired by American nature, art and architecture (check out her beautiful designs above!). But Motawi Tileworks is truly a beautiful company, inside and out.
Nawal employs a staff of 30 and it’s evident that she truly cares about the welfare of each individual. She strives to run a company that is both mentally and physically healthy for her employees, providing a flexible work environment in which people can deal with their personal matters without fear of repercussions.
Nawal’s motto is to “Live your values through your work,” and after hearing her talk about her business and her valued employees, it’s clear that she puts her philosophy into action. Through the creation of her unique and striking tiles to the way she manages her employees, Nawal truly embodies her mantra.
We look forward to hearing all of her wisdom at this year’s TEDxDetroit and getting to see some of her beautiful tilework in person.
Connecting the Dots
With TEDxDetroit fast approaching, we took the opportunity to check in with some of our upcoming speakers to get a sneak-peek at their positive ideas for the world. Please enjoy this ongoing series!
In a city where the car reigns supreme, mass transit has never seen much success. Sure, there’s a limited bus system and the People Mover, but to date, there has never been a system in place to match those in Washington D.C., Chicago or Los Angeles.
So what can Detroit do to change? There are numerous theories being thrown around, but Neil Greenberg has an idea to truly shake things up.
Born and bred in Detroit, Neil has had a love for cities and infrastructure since he was five years old, and he has made it his life’s mission to make transit work right here in his home town.
Leveraging a successful career as a transit map editor and designer (citizens of Washington D.C. and Spokane, WA can thank him for his work!) and the manager of a small transit system called Central Student Government airBus in Ann Arbor, Neil has spent the last 18 months beating the drum for Detroit transit with his new venture Freshwater Transit.
The evolving project was spawned after Neil looked closely at a map of Detroit and realized that it wasn’t so different from other cities with successful transit systems. His theory insists that Detroiters need to see what their city looks like from above, with all current roads and routes removed. From there, new lines can be drawn between the same dots.
It’s a truly innovative and exciting idea, and we’re looking forward to all that Neil has to share with the TEDxDetroit family. Stay tuned!
Taking a Stand…with Lemonade
When we come across problems or issues affecting our communities, how often do we just ignore them? How often do we make excuses, convincing ourselves that just one person can’t make an impact?
Well, we can tell you about one ten year old boy who doesn’t have the word “can’t” in his vocabulary. Joshua Smith from Detroit is one inspiring individual and we are so excited to announce that he will be joining us at this year’s TEDxDetroit to share his amazing story.
This past summer, he learned that Detroit was in the midst of a financial crisis and instead of sitting idly by, Joshua immediately wanted to do something to help.
With the assistance of his mom, Rhonda, and family, Joshua set up a lemonade stand, selling juice and popcorn to local residents with the intention of raising money for the city of Detroit. He created a flyer that was distributed in his neighborhood, and his mother took to social media to spread the word. Much to everyone’s surprise, the lemonade stand took Detroit by storm, attracting support and attention from neighbors, passersby and both local and national media. Starting with a goal of $1,000, Joshua raised more than $3,000 in one week.
For Joshua, it was so simple. He never dismissed or diminished the impact he could make – he simply used the resources he had available to him in order to solve a problem the best way he knew how. If a ten year old can have that kind of effect in a community, imagine what we could accomplish if we all channeled Joshua’s sense of ingenuity, passion and generosity.
We’re thrilled to have him on the roster for this year’s TEDxDetroit and we know you’ll be just as inspired as we are with this remarkable little boy.
Technology Meets Entrepreneurship
With TEDxDetroit fast approaching, we took the opportunity to check in with some of our upcoming speakers to get a sneak-peek at their positive ideas for the world. Please enjoy this ongoing series!
Most little boys daydream of being an astronaut, a firefighter or a police officer. For Flint native David Tarver however, engineering called to him at a young age and after pursuing his dream and navigating the world as an ambitious young African American, now stands as an influential and successful technology entrepreneur.
David’s father served in World War II in the Signal Core of the U.S. Army, and brought home with him an everlasting love of electronics and gadgets that would later inspire his son to attend the University of Michigan in pursuit of an engineering degree.
Upon graduating from Michigan, David returned to Flint to work for the prestigious AT&T Bell Laboratories. To everyone else, it would appear that David had achieved everything he ever wanted, but this was only the beginning.
In addition to his love of engineering, David also has an entrepreneurial streak a mile long, which inevitably led him and two other colleagues to move on from Bell Laboratories and launch their own venture: Telecom Analysis Systems, a manufacturer of telecommunications instruments. Together, David and his colleagues built TAS into a staggeringly successful company, selling it for $30 million just twelve years after its founding.
Now, David’s passion is being channeled through sharing his own success story and encouraging other young entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams. This summer, David published “Proving Ground: A Memoir,” which follows his journey from an African American youth in Flint to his position as a successful tech entrepreneur.
David’s story is sure to be inspiring and we are looking forward to hearing from him at this year’s TEDxDetroit!
Do Something.
With TEDxDetroit fast approaching, we took the opportunity to check in with some of our upcoming speakers to get a sneak-peek at their positive ideas for the world. Please enjoy this ongoing series!
“How do I help?”
“Where do I start?”
“Can one person really make a difference?”
No doubt, we all feel the urge to take action, make a change and help out our fellow man. It’s what makes us human. But all too often, an overwhelming feeling of helplessness kicks in which leaves us unable to make a move.
This year at TEDxDetroit, we are excited to feature Tom Nardone, a metro Detroit-based entrepreneur, author, world-famous pumpkin carver (we’re not kidding! Check out his sizzle reel on YouTube) and philanthropist who once upon a time asked himself these very questions and came up with a solution: “It doesn’t matter how big or small the task is, just do something.”
It sounds simple, but Tom’s philosophy is that you don’t have to single-handedly end global warming in order to have a big impact.
When the city of Detroit cut funding to maintain many of its public parks, Tom recognized an opportunity to use his “gearhead” skills and make a positive impact on the community. Knowing that Detroit’s children would no longer have a safe and clean place to play, Tom founded the “Mower Gang,” a group that refurbishes old lawn mowers purchased on Craigslist and mows the abandoned parks and playgrounds of Detroit.
Tom and his gearhead friends focus on cleaning up several Detroit playgrounds to make them safe and appropriate places for kids to play. And what’s more, the Mower Gang has a lot of fun while doing it, making up games like competing to see who can mow the straightest line while blindfolded. According to the website, Mower Gang events are fun and carefree - one-part biker rally and one-part cleanup.
More than anything, Tom hopes to inspire people to get out in their community and in his words, “Just do something.” So many of us wonder how to get involved and make a difference, but according to Tom, find a small way to help and you can make a big difference.
We are so excited to hear Tom share his experiences at this year’s TEDxDetroit, so prepare to be inspired!
The Art of the Double Take
Throwing people off guard and taking away perceived expectations is what Amanda Uhle and 826 Michigan are all about.
Amanda is the executive director at 826 Michigan, a non-profit dedicated to supporting kids with their creative and expository writing skills and is part of the renowned non-profit, 826 National.
With more than 1,700 volunteers in the Washtenaw area, 826 Michigan provides afterschool tutoring and writing workshops. Students come to 826 to receive guidance and inspiration for a variety of things, from poetry to storytelling, writing songs to writing college entrance essays, starting haikus to finishing novels.
But 826 Michigan is more than meets the eye. When you enter the shop on 115 East Liberty in Ann Arbor, you’ll discover robots and cyborgs instead of books and quiet learning. 826 Michigan’s store front, aka the Liberty Street Robot Supply & Repair, is a factory showroom and one-stop shop for everything a robot owner could need, such as upgrades, replacements and accessories.
826 Michigan, part of 826 National, recognizes that the last thing struggling students want to do is be tutored and do more work. The storefront makes passersby do a double take and is one way that 826 Michigan completely turns kids’ expectations upside down, and instead inspires them to get creative.
826 Michigan is definitely more than your run-of-the-mill tutoring center, and Amanda strongly believes in shaking things up to allow for creativity. We’re looking forward to seeing what surprises Amanda Uhle has in store for us at this year’s TEDxDetroit!
Giving Youth the Tools to Succeed
With TEDxDetroit fast approaching, we took the opportunity to check in with some of our upcoming speakers to get a sneak-peek at their positive ideas for the world. Please enjoy this ongoing series!
It takes less than a minute of conversation with David McGhee before his passion and commitment to service make a lasting impression.
Born and raised in Flint, David is an influential and inspiring leader within the city’s education community, currently serving as program director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Flint.His list of accomplishments is long, and he will soon be named Oakland University’s 2012 “Outstanding Young Alumni.” But as David will proudly attest, his true accomplishments lie in the dramatic impact he has had on the youth in his community and the ongoing momentum his programs are driving.
David aspires to be a human toolbox, in his own words: “I want to give everyone the tools they need to succeed.” These tools include programs such as the Lunch Buddy initiative that brings local businesses to schools for weekly lunches, and 100 Men, 100 Boys, which gives children access to strong male role models who offer lessons in key areas like resiliency, health and nutrition, and financial literacy.
Another favorite philosophy of David’s is that, “It takes a village to raise a child, but not every village is fully equipped for that job.” This year at TEDxDetroit, David puts the focus squarely on the village with his talk “The 16th Letter,” which emphasizes the person in the village, the people in the village and the potential of the village.
On behalf of the entire TEDxDetroit team, we are thrilled to have David onboard for this year’s event and are eagerly anticipating what he has to share. As always, David’s talk will be posted on TEDx YouTube channel after the event, so keep an eye on the blog and our Twitter handle for links to his and all of the other great talks!
We’re Back in Action: Announcing TEDxDetroit 2012 on October 26
Yes, you read that right! TEDxDetroit is returning on Friday, October 26th for another exciting event full of inspiring sessions from Detroit’s finest business leaders, artists, entrepreneurs and musicians.
This year’s event is taking place at two iconic Detroit venues: The Gem Theatre with an accompanying exclusive visit to the Grand Army of the Republic Building (GAR).
While the spirit of this year’s TEDxDetroit will be the same as in years past, there are a couple of differences that you may notice.
By its nature, TEDx events attract innovators, game changers and rule-breakers. Unwittingly, we were among the latter in previous years with regards to two specific restrictions:
- Attendance: TEDx rules restrict the number of attendees in many circumstances, but in previous years, so many passionate Detroiters were eager to attend, we didn’t want to turn anyone away. This resulted in our exceeding the allowed limit.
- Fundraising: TEDx rules state that the event cannot be used as a fundraiser for charitable organizations. Our board is composed of Detroiters who always strive to give back to the community; and charitable giving has been part of every TEDxDetroit event since our first event in 2009. Since then, rules have changed globally and we are no longer able to have a charitable donation component to the event.
We are suitably humbled and promise to do a better job of restraining our enthusiasm at this year’s event—however much it may test our bad-boy temperament - and look forward to producing a larger, TED-approved event in 2013 after certain requirements have been met.
Space will be limited this year to 100 attendees, but the application process will be exactly the same as in previous years. To be considered for a ticket, fill out the online application which includes several short written sections. Also, applicants who are unable to attend the October event will automatically be submitted for consideration for the larger spring conference. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us via @TEDxDetroit on Twitter.
Stay tuned for more details and speaker sneak peeks as TEDxDetroit 2012 approaches!
Hailey is a modern day Athena from the Ferndale area looking to share the good word about her 25 years of adventure in comedy, careers, connection, and gerneral role as Idea Goddess.
Learn more about Hailey at About Hailey Z.
TEDxDetroit Detroit and Michigan are home to talented creators, artists, entrepreneurs, designers, geeks, poets, scientists, thinkers and doers. We gather together every year at TEDxDetroit to collaborate, to share fresh ideas and to find inspiration. Learn more at TEDxDetroit.com
