What is TEDx?
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDx25thWard, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDx25thWard 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.
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to organize local, independent TED-like events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.
Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.
TED2011, "The Rediscovery of Wonder," will be held February 28-March 4, 2011, in Long Beach, California, with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs, California
Our Team
What do you get when you gather a group of young professionals looking to start a conversation about Architecture in Chicago? TEDx25thWard: Architecture or Revolution?
Our event organizer, Bryn Namavari, realized that there are a lot of great ideas out there, but that they live within their own bubbles. For instance, how often to professionals in the field ever get the chance to converse with students regarding their ideas? When are city planning officials ever in a situation to discuss out built environment with educators? Maybe every now and then, but certainly not enough.
The TEDx25thWard team is very passionate about our mission and with our various backgrounds, from architecture to marketing, we have come together to organize an event we hope will inspire future conversation throughout all disciplines.
"If you have an apple and I have an apple and we exchange these apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of us will have two ideas." -George Bernard Shaw
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Event
TEDx25thWard
Architecture or Revolution?
Chicago is a city marked by waves of experimentation and a history of innovation, the genesis of architectural movements and the inspiration for such icons as Wright, Burnham, and van der Rohe. It is not just a city of historical landmarks in search of preservation, but a hub for daring thinkers looking to enter the discussion of today's built environment. This event was one foray into that conversation.
Like archeology, architecture tells the stories of how people live and what they desire. It is a physical manifestation of human imagination and collective identity. We must revisit Le Corbusier's dictum: Architecture or Revolution? Should a generation living under today's social, economic, environmental, and technological conditions settle for the practices that proliferated in the last century? Shouldn't our buildings be as advanced as we are?
To further enlighten our discussion and provoke participation at all levels, a student design competition, "How Cool is Your Stool: Reshaping the City", accompanied the event. Winning entrants to the competition built, displayed, and occupied their design at the conference.
Chicago's 25th Ward
Alderman: Daniel (Danny) S. Solis
Office: 2439 S. Oakly Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60608
daniel.solis@cityofchicago.org
Phone: 773-523-4100
Fax: 773-523-9900
City Hall Office: 121 N. Lassale St.
Room 203, Office 14
Chicago, IL 60602
City Hall Phone: 312-774-6845
Fax: 312-742-9482
Explore Chicago: Pilsen "Heart of Chicago" Neighborhood
Eithteenth Street Development Corp.
Getting Around
Eat Something
Sponsors
TEDx25thWard was made possible by local sponsors who have generously given their time, resources, and talents. These organizations, companies, and individuals are our partners and are engaged in a collaborative relationship to be part of something meaningful. Please take a moment to see some of the other work these partners are doing on our sponsors listing.
Sponsor Contact
If you were a TEDx25thWard sponsor and have any questions about your sponsorship, please contact
Tracey Swanson, Sponsor Liaison
tswanson@tedx25thward.com
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