TEDxPaloAltoCollege to inspire hope in third annual event, hosted virtually

Palo Alto College will host the third annual TEDxPaloAltoCollege on Saturday, Sept. 26. The event will be livestreamed for free on Facebook and YouTube from 2–4 p.m.

The independently produced event, operated under a license from the TED organization, was organized by faculty and staff volunteers and is aimed at creating dialogue and giving people a forum to share their passions, ideas, and experiences through the event theme – “Hope Rising.”

“Over the past few years, one of our key community-building events has been our annual TEDxPaloAltoCollege, a carefully curated event that brings people together to consider new ideas,” said Dr. Robert Garza, president of Palo Alto College. “We knew how important it would be to present our annual TEDx event – albeit virtually. We hope that all of our participants leave the event inspired and with a sense of hope and purpose for a brighter tomorrow.”

The two-hour event will feature short, powerful talks and performances from various activists, business leaders, artists, and athletes. Each speaker was carefully selected to present unique ideas covering a diverse list of topics all aligned with the theme “Hope Rising.”

TEDxPaloAltoCollege Speaker List (bios are available at tedxpaloaltocollege.org/speakers)

• Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson, the first African American Poet Laureate of San Antonio (2020-2023), presenting “The Power of Your Voice”
• Eliot Marshall, mixed martial artist and jiu-jitsu champion, presenting “Finding Your Power”
• Erika Ball, founder and director of nonprofit organization “We Are Those People,” presenting “Removing the Stigma of Addictions and Mental Health”
• Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, president and CEO of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, presenting “Turning Weakness into Strength”
• Christina Olivarez, social media strategist and entrepreneur, presenting “Reimagining Social Media”

To learn more about TEDxPaloAltoCollege, visit tedxpaloaltocollege.org or email pac-tedx@ooohang.com.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

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. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on 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.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; the TED Translators Program, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from thousands of volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; the annual million-dollar TED Prize, which funds exceptional individuals with a "wish," or idea, to create change in the world; TEDx, which provides licenses to thousands of individuals and groups who host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at facebook.com/TED or Instagram at instagram.com/ted.