“We moved away from a big event so IU could get its footing,” said Jennifer Borland, one of the Bloomington branch’s organizers. “We’re choosing to do smaller events where we want to focus on things that have an educational value to them so people can learn a new skill or come to a new understanding.”
Bloomington has a tradition of support for the TEDx community.
In addition to being the site of the first TEDxIndianaUniversity, Bloomington is the home of Jill Bolte Taylor, who gave the first TED talk to go viral.
As part of its move to smaller events, TEDxBloomington organized a salon Tuesday night titled “Once Upon a Time: The Power of a Well-Told Tale.”
The salon, which took place at the Monroe County Public Library, featured an array of TED talk videos with meaningful and thought-provoking stories.
Borland said the purpose of the series of videos was to explore the positive change stories can have on the world if told the right way.
After watching the videos, attendees discussed what elements make a well-told story and what aspects of the telling would make the story stay with them.
“I think stories are a big part of every good TED talk,” Borland said. “Our hope with this salon is not only to show engaging talks, but also communicate what it is that helps people grasp an idea and how people can communicate their own big ideas.”
Though TEDxBloomington will not have its own major event this year, it will be introducing Bloomington’s first TEDxYouth, a branch of TED that features younger speakers.
The speakers at this event will be local teenagers, aged 13-18, who will share their ideas on the national theme “Made in the Future.” TEDxBloomingtonYouth will take place Nov. 14, the day after IU’s TED event.
The youth event is free and open to the public and will take place in the Monroe County Public Library’s auditorium.
