(top row l-r) Dr. Yaa Kumah-Crystal, Fallon Wilson, Beecher Hicks, III, (bottom row l-r) Martesha Johnson, Abai Schulze, Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony are scheduled to speak at TEDxNashville.
In 1968, society was breaking down as battles erupted over the Vietnam War, cultural values and race. There was the triumph of orbiting the moon for the first time, but also the tragedies of losing two proponents of peace – the Rev Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. It was a time of people protesting against an incumbent administration, fighting for civil rights, and promoting world peace versus war. Today, the nation is again severely polarized, this time along ideological and partisan lines with deadly violence in mass shootings becoming the new normal. We are once again a nation at an inflection point of change.
TEDxNashville: A World of Change, A World of Hope is the theme for the 2019 iteration of TEDx here in Music City, and it centers around this changing world. They will explore hopeful stories of the past and present, learn about recent innovative breakthroughs, and experience the positive impact of human creativity. At TPAC they will bring this conversation and critical engagement to the TEDxNashville stage on March 2 from 10 am until 5pm.
Friday, March 1, at Musicians Hall of Fame in Municipal Auditorium, featuring free food from local restaurants, artistic displays, experiential activities, a cash bar and more runs from 6-9 pm. Admission is free with the purchase of a TEDxNashville ticket. The evening includes free tours of the Musician Hall of Fame (a value of $25). Join other TEDxHeads in a night of connecting, conversation, exploration, and fun.
TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Our local event is called TEDxNashville, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxNashville event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
TPAC – Tennessee Performing Arts Center is at 505 Deaderick St. and tickets to the TEDx weekend are $60 – $75. New for 2019, add on a $15 lunch voucher to be redeemed at one of Nashville’s premiere food trucks during the event. Participating food trucks will be announced at a later date. All tickets with meal vouchers will be available for pickup the day of the event only. For more information visit http://www.tedxnashville.com
Other speakers include Kelly Goldsmith, Mark Burnette, Scott Hamilton, Dan Gardner, Chris Kukk, Collin O’Mara, Dr. Kristine Klussman, Ketch Secor,,Sabrina Savage, Kate Lee and Forrest O’Connor Dan Moore, Kristian Bush, and Noah Guthrie.
About the Black Speakers at TEDx Nashville
Henry Hicks – Consultant, banker, investor, and CEO of the National Museum of African American Music
Dr. Yaa Kumah-Crystal – Endocrinologist & pediatrician, assistant professor at Vanderbilt UMC, project lead for the Vanderbilt EHR Voice Assistant initiative
Abai Schulze – Entrepreneur, artist, designer, founder and creative director of ZAAF, recipient of the UNESCO Tremplin Prize for Entrepreneurship
Martesha Johnson – Nashville Metropolitan Public Defender, the first African American to be elected to this position, adjunct professor at Vanderbilt Law School.
Fallon Wilson – Director of Research at Black Tech Mecca, co-founder of Black in Tech Nashville, PhD from University of Chicago
Weirdo Workshop – The multi-GRAMMY nominated songwriting and production duo Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony are Weirdos…and are proud of it. Starting Weirdo Workshop in 2015, the two combined years in the music industry to explore their own acceptance, love of music and art, as well as step behind the mic as Louis York, launch a new band The Shindellas…and throw out every rule ‘the business’ told them to follow.
