TEDxUofM

Oliver Uberti: Untapped_creativity

From 2003 to 2012, Oliver Uberti worked in the design department of National Geographic Magazine, most recently as Senior Design Editor. His designs and information graphics have won numerous international awards. A graduate of the U-M School of Art & Design, Oliver left National Geographiclast year to form his own studio, Oliver Uberti Creative, in one of his favorite places on Earth: Ann Arbor.

Kathryn Clark: Untapped_planet

Dr. Clark is currently teaching in the School of Kinesiology.  Clark spent 4 years at NASA Headquarters, two of them as the International Space Station Senior Scientist and 2 of them as the Chief Scientist for Human Space Flight.  Kathryn also served on the Stafford-Anfimov Committee for the International Space Station and received the NASA Public Service Medal for time on the NASA Return to Flight Committee following the Columbia Shuttle accident.

 

Maria Castro and Pedro Lowenstein: Untapped_healing

Maria G. Castro, PhD and Pedro R. Lowenstein, MD, PhD are Professors of Neurosurgery and Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Michigan. Castro’s research focuses on the development of immunotherapies for primary and metastatic brain cancer: from immune-biology mechanisms to clinical implementation and Lowenstein’s research is mainly to discover the cellular, molecular, and mathematical basis underlying the growth patterns of malignant brain tumors, and the interactions between cancer cells with the tumor microenvironment. Together, their pioneering work in gene therapy for brain cancer has recently been approved by the FDA and a Phase I clinical trial will commence at the University of Michigan imminently.

Dan Morse: Untapped_heroism 

Born and raised in Jersey, Dan Morse has sought to live his life according to one philosophy – no matter where you came from; you possess immense potential to create a difference in the world.  To help others see the same, he has formed a partnership with a youth garden in Detroit, served as the Chief Programming Officer for Future Civic Leaders (a youth political leadership non-profit in D.C.), and founded The Beet Box (a health empowerment food cart in Ann Arbor).  Speaking with you today, he hopes to help you see your potential too.

John Bacon: Untapped_inspiration

John Bacon is a writer, speaker, teacher and coach of high school hockey.  He authored five books on sports, business and leadership, including Cirque du Soleil: The Spark, Bo’s Lasting Lessons: The Legendary Coach Teaches the Timeless Fundamentals of Leadership and Three and Out: Rich Rodriguez and the Michigan Wolverines in the Crucible of College football (New York Times bestseller).  He is the recipient of the 2009 Golden Apple. In 2011 the Michigan Chapter of the Meeting Professionals International named him Speaker of the Year.

Sterling Speirn: Untapped_giving

Sterling Speirn is president and CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Mich. Since joining the foundation in 2006 ­­­­­­, ­he has led the foundation to a new strategic framework and refined the mission, focusing on propelling vulnerable children to success through a comprehensive approach focused on education and learning; food, health and well-being; and family economic security along with a commitment to promoting racial equity and community and civic engagement. Speirn, a Michigan native, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Stanford University, and a law degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor

Sharon Pomerantz: Untapped_stories

Sharon Pomerantz’s first novel Rich Boy, now out in paperback, was the 2010 winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction, and was chosen by Entertainment Weekly as one of the Ten Best Novels of 2010, and by Booklist as one of the Ten Best First Novels of 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals, as well as on NPR’s Selected Shorts program, and her story “Ghost Knife,” originally published in Ploughshares, was included in Best American Short Stories 2003. She teaches writing at the University of Michigan.

Mike Barwis: Untapped_potential

Mike Barwis is the founder and CEO of the Barwis Methods family of companies, and a consultant to the NY Mets.  He was formerly the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Michigan.  During his career, he has trained over 500 professional and Olympic athletes, as well as college All-Americans, national champions, national and international competitors and medalists in over 40 sports.

Julie Steiner: Untapped_change

Julie Steiner, graduate of UM School of Natural Resources and the Environment, has spent her career working for social change in a variety of settings and on a variety of issues.  Anti-poverty organizing with ACORN,  political organizer for abortion rights with Arizona Right to Choose, Executive Director of ACLU of Tennessee and lobbyist on women’s issues for ACLU in Washington, first Director of SAPAC at UM, and Human Rights Coordinator at the City of Ann Arbor. Julie is currently the Executive Director of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance a coalition of 32 community non profits and local government offices working together to end homelessness. Julie likes to say that social change work can be like joining the Army because you can see the world—-Jacksonville, Houston, Phoenix, Memphis, Nashville, Oak Ridge, Chattanooga, Washington DC and Ann Arbor MI!  Her friends say she was run out of town.

Gina Athena Ulysse: Untapped_fierceness/my giant leaps

Gina Athena Ulysse received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. She is an anthropologist, spokenword poet/performance artist and blogger. Her artistic work revolves around finding and defining self as a Haitian-American woman, and she remains fiercely committed to her chosen role of change agent for her birth country. She is currently an associate professor at Wesleyan University.

Michael Williams: Untapped_Detroit

Michael Williams is a native of Detroit and a senior at the University of Michigan where he studies Afroamerican and African Studies and Urban Studies. He credits civic engagement experiences in Vietnam, South Africa, and his hometown of Detroit to deepening his passion for social justice in urban environments. As he completes his final undergraduate term participating in the Semester in Detroit program, Michael hopes to remain in Detroit long-term tackling urban planning and policy issues to create equitable, sustainable, and self-empowered neighborhoods and communities.

 

Merry Michelle Walker: Untapped_solutions
Merry Walker is the founder of Vort Port International (VPI), an organization that enables low-income communities globally to gain access to basic necessities through education, training, and innovation of sustainable technology-based solutions. With a majority of its membership being women, VPI champions women’s rights around the world through empowering rural women attain skills that enable them to positively impact their communities. Ms. Walker holds a Masters of Science in Engineering degree in Energy Systems Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

James Robert: Untapped_self

Jim Robert has been a public school teacher for over 24 years.  He wrote and developed the curriculum for his high school Philosophy/Senior Passage Class that he has taught for over 17 years at Pioneer High School.  He is the father of three and lives with his wife in Ann Arbor.

Evelyn Alsultany: Untapped_stereotypes

Evelyn Alsultany is an Associate Professor in the Department of American Culture at the University of Michigan. She is the author of Arabs and Muslims in the Media: Race and Representation after 9/11, co-editor of Arab and Arab American Feminisms: Gender, Violence, and Belonging and co-editor of Between the Middle East and the Americas: The Cultural Politics of Diaspora. She is guest curator of the Arab American National Museum’s online exhibit: www.arabstereotypes.org.

Mary Heinen: Untapped_freedom

Mary Heinen is affiliated with the University of Michigan School of Social Work and Open Society Foundation. She organizes, educates and supports people returning from corrections. Mary is a Soros Justice Fellow. Heinen is co-founder of the Prison Creative Arts Project and the national Prison Arts Coalition. She is currently working with Nation Inside and the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women. Mary is a documentary filmmaker, visual artist, historian and scholar.

Zafar Razzacki: Untapped_energy

An Account Executive on Google’s Brand Solutions sales team, Zafar Razzacki works with some of the world’s largest brands to develop innovative digital marketing strategies.  Before joining Google, Zafar spent 10 years in entrepreneurial ventures in technology, education, medical device, and music markets.  When not busy chasing big ideas and developing crazy business concepts, he is a passionate singer-songwriter who has performed on stages around the world.  The only thing stronger than his love of music is his love for the city of Detroit.

David Chesney: Untapped_resonance

David Chesney thoroughly enjoys teaching in the Computer Science and Engineering Division at the University of Michigan.  His life is blessed by a loving wife, Jean, and three extraordinary daughters, Tegan, Brynn, and Mairin;  all of whom make him better than he is.

Melissa Gross: Untapped_body

Melissa Gross has a background in dance (BA from University of Colorado) and kinesiology (PhD from UCLA). Her current research focuses on the expression of emotion in body movement in healthy individuals and individuals with mood disorders. She teaches anatomy and biomechanics in the School of Kinesiology at UM where she is delighted to observe the creativity in undergraduate students that emerges at the intersection of art and science.

Chris Armstrong: Untapped_respect

Chris Armstrong was the first openly gay Student Body President at the University of Michigan. After being elected, the Assistant Attorney General of Michigan began attacking him and lobbying for his resignation simply because he was gay. After the story gained national media attention, the Asst. Attorney General and Chris went on to win a settlement against his aggressor. Chris now resides in Washington, DC.

x

It’s been five, seven, ten, thirteen days since over 1,200 individuals came together in the University of Michigan Power Center to connect, listen, share, learn, and value ideas of all measure and form. They took the time out of their day – away from their responsibilities and commitments – to feed their souls and brains with the perspectives of similar individuals and those in completely different walks of life. Those attendees gathered to share experiences from their own careers and to listen to those of others; they created an day of open dialogue that was nothing short of amazing. So many people worked hard through planning and participation to make the experience exactly what it was.  For that, I am grateful; he is grateful; she is grateful. We are a little different than before.

But what happens now as the day is quickly becomes a memory?

Our team reflects, remembers, and looks forward to TEDxUofM 2014.

Our attendees leave; they bring up the day in conversation; they return to their normal life of goal reaching and responsibility.

Our community summarizes the day in news articles and ponders when the next event might be.

Our talks are watched online and supplemented in school courses.

But what about the energy? What about that intrinsic feeling that was shared at the Power Center last Friday, but no one can quite describe.  Here’s one personal hope for where it will go ——-

 

I hope the energy flies and swooshes and swirls around the attendees every which way as they walk throughout the University of Michigan, throughout Ann Arbor, and beyond. I hope that it instantly sticks to each person they talk to and instills in them empowerment and passion to follow that completely crazy idea they had eating a bagel or sharpening a pencil that morning. I hope it gives them peace and a sense of purpose in the smallest conversation or wink of an eye in their hour.  TEDxUofM 2013 Untapped_ is a launching pad and a reflection zone!  But, it only has as much gusto as the work we all put in now to keep it going.

CONNECT with the people you met at the conference whose collaboration  can move local mountains.

FEEL the empowerment of the speakers and the community who demonstrated that you can do whatever it is your passion drives you towards. 

CHANGE the path of your hour, or of your day (or your life!) because of what you heard and felt and learned at the conference.

Help us keep the TED spirit with us all year long.  Help us host smaller intimate events to reconnect and invite others.  Help us support your new projects and connect you to people who can help bring them to life.

TEDxUofM is built and blossoms through the passions of a group of students who believe that our community needs a revamped vision of education, a chance to be completely immersed and inspired.  It is driven by a group of people willing to support the idea of following passion and instinct.  It is immensely thrilling to see the support we’ve had for now four years.  Here comes a fifth – how will you help us mold and grow into an even better version of ourselves for this community of doers, thinkers, and rock-on indiviauls?  Where will we go?  Let’s follow the energy.

Are you tying your shoes correctly?

Chances are you may not be.  Terry Moore gives a tutorial in this TED 2005 talk. Your life may never be the same.