What do you get when you bring together artists, innovators, musicians, entrepreneurs, doctors, writers, poets, scientists, and storytellers in one place to talk about Detroit?
Add the gorgeous Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit and a couple thousand people who want to hear, learn, and share ideas with each other, and you’ve got TEDxDetroit 2015, an amazing experience that rivals no other in the metro Detroit area.
From a high school student who created the first wheelchair stroller to a woman who doesn’t code, yet created a successful application to artists painting on canvas live onstage in less than 18 minutes, I joined over 2,500 attendees last Thursday to hear ideas worth spreading at the seventh annual TEDxDetroit event.
It was incredible to listen to their stories of struggle and innovation, as well as hear the wonderful performances from the talented artists and musicians.
This was the sixth TEDxDetroit event I’ve attended in person. I missed seeing the first one in person and watched the livestream.
Every time I attend I walk away inspired and uplifted from the stories, poetry, and music I’ve heard.
Last year I was a volunteer on the TEDxDetroit photography team. While it was exciting to be a part of the group that helps make TEDxDetroit happen, I missed seeing the talks and attending the labs since I was working behind the scenes.
While I was invited to join the photography team again this year, I decided to return as a participant and was happy to catch all the talks, visit the labs, and meet other attendees.
This year’s presenters were amazing, but one presenter’s work touched me the most: Alden Kane. A high school student at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Kane created a stroller that can be used by people in a wheelchair.
He worked closely with another speaker, author and advocate Sharina Jones, to design and develop a stroller that Jones could use with her newborn son.
Kane was interviewed on stage by TEDxDetroit curator Charlie Woolburg about his work. At the end of the interview, Jones returned to the stage, using the wheelchair stroller created by Kane.
https://twitter.com/UHSArrow/status/652163600388263936
Enjoy some of the backchannel conversation about the inspiring ideas and innovations shared at TEDxDetroit:
https://twitter.com/redcrew/status/652116208720998400
