TEDx: Changing The World, One Community At a Time

Most people are familiar with TED, the global media platform that highlights “ideas worth spreading,” but many people don’t know about TEDx — and if you don’t, then you need to. Just like the original TED Talks, which give the world’s leading authors, scientists, artists, thought-leaders, and more the opportunity to voice their expertise to the world, TEDx allows local communities to engage with innovative ideas that spark conversations about key issues. At a TEDx event, people gather to listen to brief but powerful TED-like talks that foster a richer understanding of the world around us.

TED2019: Bigger Than Us. April 15 – 19, 2019, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Photo: Dian Lofton / TED

This year, TEDx is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Its flexibility has enabled it to thrive in countless communities across the globe. Since its establishment ten years ago, TEDx has held over 27,000 events in over 170 countries. From the streets of Madrid to snowy Antarctica, individuals gather together at TEDx events and share a myriad of moving and educational experiences with each other.

By promoting the stories of local speakers and sharing these unique perspectives with a massive, global audience online, TEDx is democratizing the TED experience. TEDx is working from the ground up to shape the next era of leaders, empowering individuals from all walks of life to change the lives’ of those around them.

As TEDx Executive Director Jay Herratti said in a recent interview, “We’ve largely let our community of passionate volunteer TEDx organizers lead us in this journey. They are the heart of the TEDx program, replicating the TED experience in their local communities and ultimately making us stronger as a global organization.” Here are just a few of the top TEDx talks of all time:

Especially in today’s divided climate, it is critical that we continue to share ideas and learn from the diverse perspectives of our peers. TEDx allows global citizens to do just that, educating and connecting individuals from around the globe. By universalizing the spirit of TED’s mission, TEDx is changing the world, one community at a time.