The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 3 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on November 13, 2020.
Emma Overton ’21 and Adam Hartzer ’23
Editor-in-Chief and News Editor, Managing Editor and Layout Editor
overtoneg@mx.lakeforest.edu and hartzeraj@mx.lakeforest.edu
TED Conferences, a nonprofit organization whose name stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and their related TED talks, have amassed millions of views online. According to the Lake Forest College website, TED talks are “usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today’s leading thinkers and doers.” Popular TED talks include a talk titled “Do schools kill creativity?” by author Sir Ken Robinson and “This is what happens when you reply to spam email” by comedian James Veitch. Specifically, TEDx, according to the TED website, “brings the spirit of TED to local communities around the globe…” The TEDx talks are organized independently under a free license granted by TED, and the website notes that “these events are not controlled by TED, but event organizers agree to abide by our format, and are offered guidelines for curation, speaker coaching, event organizing and more.”
Holding their first event at the College in 2017, TEDx Lake Forest College is recruiting new applicants who are interested in participating in their 2021 event.
The 2020 TEDx Lake Forest College event was held in February with the theme of “Boiling Point,” and speakers included Tebatso Duba ’22, Sarah Joy Stauber ’21, Associate Professor of Communication Elizabeth Benacka, former professional boxer and founder of the “I Am” initiative Lisa Van Ahn, and Assistant Director of Counseling Services for the Lake Forest College Health and Wellness Center Dr. Ed Neumann.
Discussing her 2020 TEDx Lake Forest College experience, Duba noted that “speaking [at] TEDx [was] a goal of mine for a very long time. I am a big fan, and the opportunity [was] an honor…” She further stated that the topic of her talk was “Living as a Coconut: Opportunity over Privilege.” Describing her talk, Duba explained: “‘Coconut’ is a derogatory and frankly racist term given to people of color, especially black people, if they have ‘white characteristics.’” The implications of society labelling people of color as ‘Oreos’ or ‘Coconuts’ (brown on the outside, white on the inside) is that there is a standard that is accepted in society and the professional world. Specifically, a Eurocentric standard that we should all aspire to. However, it further insinuates that as a person of color, if I meet these ‘standards’ then I cannot truly be black. Ultimately, I spoke about the inherent racism and pressure to meet a standard that is not meant for people of color. Then I spoke about the need to bring your own chair to the table if they do not provide one for you.”
Overall, Duba encouraged those interested in speaking to apply, noting “speak about what you are passionate about and know that you are giving something valuable to the listeners and they are there for you, so shine and just do you…[d]o the TED Talk and many more because there is nothing worse than ‘what if.’”
Lead Organizer and Co-President of TEDx, Zach Jenkins ’21, explained how he became interested in the TEDx program at Lake Forest College.
“I got involved with TEDx my freshman year (the first year it was around) by volunteering through the Forester Fair in the fall. I ended up as stage manager that year and loved it so much I stayed on as [Vice President] in the next year and Co-Pres[ident] for the following years,” Jenkins said.
Fellow Co-President Margaret Blackstone ’22 explained that the application consists of providing information about yourself and possible ideas you may want to talk about. Blackstone reassured that individuals do not need to have their TED talk already made, as they will help individuals create their presentation.
For those that are interested in learning more about TEDx, Blackstone encourages those to reach out to get involved.
“We have received quite a few applications for speaking at TEDx, but we are always looking for more,” Blackstone said. “A good candidate is someone who has a strong passion that they are willing to share with others.”
Jenkins echoed Blackstone’s advice for those that are interested in applying.
“What usually makes a great candidate…is someone who genuinely has an idea, based on research or experience, that’s unique or offers a different viewpoint on a conversation. The whole point of TED is ‘ideas worth spreading’ so we look for exactly that: unique ideas that are worth giving a platform to,” Jenkins explains.
Like many other campus-related activities and events planned for the spring, TEDx must adapt to the public health concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 TEDx event is scheduled for February 20, 2021 at Lake Forest College, according to the speaker application form.
To prepare for these changes, Blackstone and Jenkins explain that TEDx Lake Forest College is planning for an in-person event but recognize that they may need to pivot from an in-person event.
“Our main job is to plan a[n] in person event to give TED talks. Thus, the pandemic is affecting us because we do not know if we should plan for some type of social[ly] distant in person event or if it will have to be all virtual,” Blackstone stated.
Jenkins mentioned that they are still working on how to make this event a safe reality for the community in the spring but wanted to thank Blackstone for her work to help make the event a possibility. He noted, “the pandemic makes this event, which is essentially a speaking event with a live audience, very difficult…[o]riginally, I was ready to write TEDx off for this year, but Margaret really deserves credit for kicking it into gear and making the event a reality,” Jenkins said.
Speakers who are interested in applying can complete the speaker application form here. Blackstone noted that if individuals need additional time they should contact the Co-Presidents at: blackstonemo@mx.lakeforest.edu and jenkinszd@mx.lakeforest.edu.
