NSU is set to host their 6th annual TEDxNSU event on March 18 at 12 p.m. in the Performance Theatre in the Don Taft University Center.
TEDxNSU features an array of 10 minute speeches, or TED talks, from students and faculty.
TED is a non-profit organization whose mission is to spread ideas worth sharing. This is done through TED talks, which are short and impactful talks designed to inspire others. TEDxNSU is an independently organized event, modeled after TED talks. It focuses on the local community and hearing voices from the local community.
Leanne Boucher, associate professor of psychology and one of the co-organizers for TEDxNSU, said that she thinks this type of event is great for NSU.
“I really liked the idea that TED is built on, which is that we should give ideas worth spreading a stage and an audience. I really like doing that on a college campus because we all try to be intellectual and think about ideas that are bigger than ourselves, so I thought that it would fit perfectly here at NSU,” Boucher said.
The theme this year is, “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” The topic stems from the simple pieces of advice that we were all given as children, and how we stopped, dropped, and rolled through different experiences in our lives.
Boucher said, “We were all just chatting in my office one day, and we said it jokingly, but then the more we thought about it, the more we realized that stopping, dropping and rolling is really what the event is about. The event is about stopping and reflecting on what’s going on and then acting on it.”
Alonzo Williams, senior dance major, is one of the speakers for the TEDxNSU. He said he is very excited to get his ideas out into the public.
“I am excited to be speaking about something that is bigger than me, especially with it being very relevant in the times we are living in right now,” he said. “It could change someone’s whole perspective and make a difference.”
William’s talk is titled “Creative Violence” and is about utilizing creativity as a form of violence to create social reform.
Williams said, “My talk is about utilizing that art or that God-given gift you have been given and using that form of art as a violence to create change instead of using physical violence.”
One of Boucher’s responsibilities is to help the speakers give the best speech possible within their time limit.
“I help to curate our speakers and try to help them give the best 10 minute talk of their lives,” said Boucher. “I start working with them from the very beginning stages all the way to the end. For me, it is amazing to see that transformation, where they have this idea and are struggling to put it into words, and then they work hard to cultivate it, and for me it is exciting to see the fruition of their hard work.”
Boucher said this event brings together the whole community, as well as uniting NSU.
“I think that it is a great day for us all to get together as one NSU and pull together all of our talents and share it with the community to let them know how great NSU is,” said Boucher. “I think we need this event because it is always important to facilitate discussions and talk about topics that people are maybe unaware of, so I think it’s good to put things like this on people’s radars.”
The event is open to anyone who would like to attend. Tickets cost $20 per person and are available at tinyurl.com/TEDxNSU2017Tix. For more information visit nova.edu/tedxnsu.
