TEDxSpartanburg a success: now what?

By Colin Riddle  

SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 11:01 a.m. (0)

When TEDxSpartanburg concluded earlier this month, its organizers were sure of one thing: if we can do this, everyone can.

TEDxSpartanburg (x = independently organized TED event) was Spartanburg’s take on TED (Technology, Entertainment, & Design), a nonprofit that helps initiate worldwide “ideas worth spreading.”

Past TED events, which have been held around the world, have brought speakers from a variety of backgrounds, including JJ Abrams, a director and writer, Robert Ballard, who discovered the RMS Titantic wreckage, and former president Bill Clinton.

TEDxSpartanburg offered talks from Spartanburg leaders in business, education, philanthropy, and the arts.

The speakers were encouraged to discuss a topic never heard before focusing on this year’s theme:  “Together:  Creating a New Vision.”

The event was held at The Showroom Gallery and Performance Hall at Hub-Bub.

Nearly two hundred community members attended and were given the opportunity to connect with people inspired to better Spartanburg in their own ways.

“We were super thrilled for the TEDx people to come here.  I’m glad I was able to see so many new faces,” said Celia Cooksey, Hub-Bub executive director.

The event consisted of three sections with speakers and musical acts along with host Patrick Whitfill, an alumnus of the Hub-Bub artists-in-residence program, poet, and USC Upstate adjunct professor of English.

“My goal was to let Spartanburg see we have so much talent and intelligence in the community,” Whitfill said.

Among the speakers were Amy Wood, WSPA TV news anchor, and Betsy Fleming, president of Converse College, along with professors, artists, business professionals, and humanitarians.

“One of our goals was to present Spartanburg as we are to the global community and have people from all aspects of the community,” said Ximena Herrera, curator and organizer of TEDxSpartanburg.

The plan started with Herrera a year ago after applying to TED. Then came the volunteers in full force.  The entire event was supported by volunteers and the collaborative thinking of a community.

“Now that we’ve seen that it’s possible, it’s the best way for us to keep going,” said Whitfill.

Attendees were encouraged to let passion and inspiration drive their dreams into realities through the presence of teamwork.

Organizations throughout Spartanburg have been putting this practice to work over the years.

Hub-Bub holds events throughout the year in their showroom, such as open mic night for college students and high school students.

Also, Hub-Bub will hold their fundraiser talent search this Saturday known as “The Next Big Thing” and a photography quilt project called Snapshot Spartanburg on Oct. 22nd, both offering community outreach for all ages.

“What we’re doing works at building community,” said Cooksey.  “We focus on creating ideas that improve the quality of everybody’s life.”

TEDxSpartanburg and Hub-Bub encourage the community to foster conversations in order to truly better Spartanburg.

Converse College funds programs such as “Finding Voice,” a collaborative effort between music therapy and theatre that produces a depiction of empowered women survivors of domestic abuse.

Such programs are funded by creativity grants from the college, which provide support to students, faculty and staff with innovative ideas for positive change in the community.

New programs are on their way because of the increasing motivation from the event, which has provided tools and direction for anyone in Spartanburg to create something from their own passions.

“People are now coming together to share ideas and start groups,” said Herrera.

TEDx created the opportunity for people who had never met before to come together and discuss the finer issues.

“A number of people already made a point to talk to the speakers after the first day about ideas and the things they want to do,” said Whitfill.

Organizations such as Hub-Bub and TED are integrating ideas from multiple platforms in order to better the community as a whole.

Cooksey said, “Spreading ideas connects people, and community is the connecting of people.”

Programs are set, ideas are present, and everyone has the opportunity to make a difference in their own way.

“We have to encourage each other to keep doing what makes us passionate,” said Whitfill.