In cities across the globe, the red TED has become a symbol for intellectual curiosity. It signifies a gathering not just of experts but also of dreamers and skeptics, coming together to share "ideas [that] change everything."
While the massive, viral TED Talks often grab the headlines, the independent "x" events are where the grassroots work happens. Licensed by TED but organized independently, these local gatherings are curated to reflect the specific pulse of their communities. For Salt Lake, this means a diverse lineup that might feature a tech entrepreneur and a reuse advocate.
Sara Jones, CEO of Inclusion Pro, has been a volunteer for TEDxSaltLake since 2018. For the past three years, she has been a speaker coach. A TED Talk speaker herself, Sara shared her story, "Love and loss as a transracial adoptee," in 2020.
“Sometimes when people ask me about speaking, they think it is to tell an inspirational story or to make a political statement, but there are strict guidelines," Sara explained. "They can not be religious, commercial or political. It is about sparking conversations in the community and connections, and hopefully interesting collaborations that make a difference in the world."
The curation team often receives over 200 applications from individuals, all eager to share their ideas on topics they care deeply about. From this large pool of applicants, nine were selected for last year's event. Each selected speaker is allotted 8-11 minutes on stage, making every moment count.
"Our curation team has focused on having speakers from Utah, those who are making a difference here," Sara said. "We are not here to help someone build their business."
The audience sees the speakers' confidence and emotional arcs. What the audience doesn’t see is the preparation that happens behind the scenes. Coaches and speakers dedicate up to three weeks to memorizing their talks. This is followed by four weeks of rehearsals.
Jamaica Trinnaman, owner of Hello! Bulk Markets brought her passion for reusable containers to reduce plastic pollution to the stage through the TEDxSaltLakeCity coaching process. Jamaica used her decades of experience in the grocery industry to launch her 'bring your own container' business in 2018.
"Working in the grocery market led me to think about how we could do it better and with less waste," Jamaica said. "I always enjoyed shopping in the bulk section. I felt like I got fresher product and I could control the amount I purchased."
Jamaica hopes the impact of her TEDxSaltLakeCity talk inspires people to return to doing things the way they were done before.
"Supporting a store like mine is an accessible way for people to reduce plastic pollution," Jamaica said. "Through the coaching help, I was able to simplify and hone that unique story that is only mine. Opening a store has been an emotional journey."
Attendees often describe a lingering energy, a "brain buzz" that often sparks new collaborations and local initiatives.
“We work really hard as coaches to help the messaging and the idea land in a way that it can be heard," Sara explained. "A TED-style talk is very unique. Its purpose is to spark conversation, not to convince."