APRIL 1st 2017THE MUSIC CENTER

1014 S. MICHIGAN AVE LIVESTREAM AVAILABLE ON

WWW.TEDXCOLUMBIACHI.COM

WHAT IS TED?

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

ABOUT TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

Feeling alone in a crowded room?

Many of us can relate to this sense of isolation at some point in our lives: that, for whatever reason, be it race, sexuality, personality, or something else, we are unseen. Our voice and all we have to offer is unheard and overlooked and it’s up to us to wander towards the obscured uncertainty of the future alone. The secret is, as alone and powerless as it feels, you’re not: you have a presence that only you can evoke and make known. You have the power to shine light on the darkness isolating you and become a beacon for others to follow as you blaze your own trail, or choose to join with others to prevent another’s light from fading. The process of evoking your presence is all about realizing who you are, how you can help your community, and figuring out what your legacy will be. It can be a difficult journey and there may be doubts, but only by taking a step forward can you escape the dark. So join us, evoke your light, and make your presence known to the world.

2017

We are a community of creative intellectuals who not only make things, but create with the intention of changing the world. We are thought leaders; paving a creative path for the future of artistic endeavors.

THIS YEAR, WE EVOKE PRESENCE.

SCHEDULE OF THE DAY

10:00 AM House Open 11:00 AM What is TED?

11:05 AM INTERNAL PRESENCE

Performance: My Friend Vel- Poet Peter Kim Stand Up With Comedy: Evoking Your Power Through Vulnerability Previously recorded TED Talk: Zak Ebrahim I am the Son of a Terrorist. Here’s How I Chose Peace Stephen Asma Creative Improvisation and the Self Kacy Johnson Uncovering True Beauty, One Portrait at a Time

12:35 PM LUNCH BREAK

1:50 PM SHINE YOUR OWN LIGHT

Jim Bachor Immortality is a Team Effort Previously recorded TED Talk: John Legend “Redemption Song” Peformance - MJSC Jocelyn Delk Adams Standing in Your Authenticity Rich Alapack Can We Solve Hard to Talk About Issues Through Public Mantras?

3:20 PM BREAK

3:53 PM HELPING OTHERS’ LIGHTS SHINE ON

Volker Rose Picture This: A Love Story That Connected Art and Science Previously recorded TED Talk: David Brooks Should you live for your résumé.. or your eulogy? Sanjana Kantayya A Seat at the Table Peformance - Sam Trump Indira Johnson The Power of Individual Action: How One Ripple Can Change the World Louis Carr The Necessity of Being Uncomfortable

6:15 PM RECEPTION (2ND FLOOR 618 S. MICHIGAN)

SCHEDULE OF THE DAY 2017 SPEAKERS

MOBOLAJI AKINTUNDE

2017 HOSTMobolaji Akintunde helps brands connect and adapt to today’s culture. He works with entrepreneurs and organizations to develop their branding, marketing, and technology strategies, and to launch new startup ventures. As Director of Marketing, he currently leads the sales, marketing, and brand development for PeopleVine, a B2C CRM-based engagement platform that helps brands personalize their customer experiences. Additionally, utilizing his vast network of celebrities and key decision makers, Akintunde hosts a live monthly talk show, Marketing Disrupted, where he sits down with prominent innovators to discuss how technology is disrupting the marketing landscape across various industries.

PETER KIM

COMEDIAN & ENTREPRENEURPeter Kim (@peterkz) is a Chicago based writer, performer, comedian represented by Gray Talent Group. Recent credits include The Second City National Touring Company, and The Second City e.t.c. - where he was nominated for a Jeff Award in the critically acclaimed revue: ‘A Red Line Runs Through It’. He can currently be seen improvising with Baby Wine at The Annoyance, hosting The Moth at Lincoln Hall and The Kiki at The Laugh Factory.

STEPHEN ASMA

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO PROFESSOR & AUTHORA professor of Philosophy and Distinguished Scholar at Columbia College Chicago, Stephen Asma is a man of many talents. Illustration, professional musician, Fulbright Scholar, and bestselling author of 10 books, including Buddha for Beginners, are just the beginning. He is a contributor to radio programs like Oprah Radio’s “Soul Series,” and writes for the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the Journal of Biology and Philosophy. Currently, he is teaching courses about the human mind, science, and Eastern and Western philosophy, and performs with his band Swing Hakim. He is found at his soundcloud and his site, stephenasma.com.

ARTIST & PHOTOGRAPHERKacy Johnson is a documentary portrait artist, and explores the realities of women by asking women themselves to become creators of their story. Her project, FEMALE, attempts to look beyond typical female representations by creating portraits of exposed backs of women, a part of their body that is more often visible to others than to themselves. Authentic, anonymous, and honest, these portraits help us understand and express the reality of women from around the world, and to take into account the similarities and differences between the living conditions of women in different parts of the world.

ARTISTChicago artist Jim Bachor adapts the mosaic, an art form that dates to at least the third millennium BC, and applies it to contemporary American life. Using the same materials, tools, and methods of the craftsmen of antiquity, he creates mosaics that speak of modern things, but in an ancient voice. By harnessing the limitations of this indestructible technique, Bachor’s work surprises while challenging long-held notions of what a mosaic should be. Jim’s work has been included in juried shows throughout the country and his pothole art project attracted world-wide attention since 2013.

KACY JOHNSON

JIM BACHOR

CHEF, AUTHOR, AND ENTREPRENEURJocelyn Delk Adams is the founder and author behind the award-winning and bestselling cookbook and website Grandbaby Cakes, which gives her family’s, particularly her grandmother’s, recipes her modern spin while preserving the crucial ingredient: tradition. Grandbaby Cakes was featured as a top fall cookbook by Vanity Fair and People, among others. Jocelyn is a cast member of the Cooking Channel’s most popular shows, “Unique Sweets,” regularly appears on the TODAY Show, and has featured in many award-winning publications. Jocelyn hopes Grandbaby Cakes will continue to encourage generations of dessert enthusiasts to bake and create family memories for years to come.

FOUNDER OF WE ALL LIVE HERE & ARTISTRich Alapack is the founder of the Chicago-based organization We All Live Here, whose mission is to use art, community, and technology to inspire empathy and community-building. He works with schools to create public art exploring the idea of “we all live here”; in the process, he teaches kids graphic design, and crowdfunding. In the end, the path of opening a dialogue and looking at the world through a more creative lense unites the staff and students involved, connects them to their communities, and gives the students a blueprint of how to make ideas come to life.

JOCELYN DELK ADAMS

RICH ALAPACK

PHYSICIST FOR ARGONNE NATIONAL LABVolker Rose is a physicist with the Advanced Photon Source and the Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne National Laboratory and an Adjunct Professor of Ohio University’s Physics and Astronomy Department. He holds a degree in physics from RWTH Aachen, Germany. He has published over 60 articles and given over 50 talks at conferences and higher institutions around the world. His work has been covered by The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and many more. Some of his research achievements include a R&D 100 Award, Department of Energy Early Career Research Program Award, and a Pinnacle of Education Award.

GIRL ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST FOR GIRLFORWARDSanjana was born in Rockford, Illinois to two resilient immigrants from Tamil Nadu, India. When she was 5, her family moved to Kogi State, Nigeria where they served at a Christian missionary hospital. Frequenting Tamil Nadu and Kogi State throughout her childhood, Sanjana was raised in strong Yoruba and Tamil communities. Sanjana first encountered Chicago’s refugee resettlement community in 2013 by interning at Pan-African Association and Forma FGC. In 2015, she joined GirlForward as an intern, and now serves as the Girl Engagement Specialist, where she promotes the health, safety, and social-emotional learning of girls displaced by conflict or persecution.

VOLKER ROSE

SANJANA KANTAYYA

ARTIST & FOUNDER OF SHANTI FOUNDATIONBorn in Mumbai, India, award winning artist and educator, Indira Johnson’s public art and community-engaged projects explore ways in which art can increase awareness of the social, political and environmental conditions of our world and motivate people to play an active role in shaping the social fabric of their community. Ten Thousand Ripples, Johnson’s current Chicago area Public Art, Peace and Civic Engagement Initiative, which uses art as a catalyst to generate conversations about peace and nonviolence. Johnson lives in Evanston Illinois and travels to India annually to work in a family run project in the Golibar slum of Mumbai.

PRESIDENT OF MEDIA SALES FOR BETLouis Carr is an accomplished BET senior executive, dedicated mentor, philanthropist, author, and devoted patron of African-American art. Since Mr. Carr started his career, he has delivered the most advertising sales targeted to African-American consumers in the media industry. He has also hired more African-American sales professionals than any other executive or company in the industry. He founded the Louis Carr Internship Foundation to improve diversity in corporate America through paid internships. It has had 140 paid interns and 22 interns alumni, all students of color, who have garnered full time employment opportunities with companies like CNN and Walton Isaacson.

INDIRA JOHNSON

LOUIS CARR

For full length biographies and more information visitWWW.TEDXCOLUMBIACHI.COM

PERFORMERSMY FRIEND VEL POET

MJSC DANCEClaire GriceMonett CrumpSaadat Kaplinsky Jon’Qis Fillyaw

SAM TRUMP MUSICIAN

2017

MY FRIEND VEL POET

SAM TRUMP MUSICIAN

2017 TEAM

MANAGING DIRECTORS

MEDIA

FINANCE

CREATIVE

PHOTOGRAPHER

ADVISORS

MARKETING

SPEAKERS

PRODUCTION

Tess Carmody Ashley Maahs

Rialin Jose Director

Rosie Schultz Director Cristina Granados Associate

Eboni Bryant Director Luisa Martinez Associate

Joey Abreu

Meg DuguidSusan Newman

Shaunda Brooks Director Khanh Nguyen AssociateAnya Kohlman Associate

Colin Herzog Director Cameron Hubert Associate Production

Matt Johnson Director Steph Hanson Director Bry Liggins Associate Israel Machado AssociateAlec Medina Associate