You’ve been waiting, watching and wondering – who will be the innovative Coloradans to speak at this year’s TEDxMileHigh? Well, your wait is over!
This year’s presenters include a two-time Olympian, VH1’s “top world-changer under 25,” the Chief Animator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, and three masters of slam. To go along with this year’s theme of “Risk & Reward,” the speakers will talk about risks they took and how it helped them think differently, venture into new territory and take action in our community and around the world. More speakers will be added in the coming weeks. Checkout the initial list of presenters and then join us at TEDxMileHigh 2012!
Jeremy Bloom
This three-time World Champion, two-time Olympian and eleven-time World Cup gold medalist in freestyle skiing has taken up a new cause in recent years: granting lifelong wishes to low-income senior citizens. Jeremy’s Wish of a Lifetime foundation grants about 120 wishes each year from skydiving to playing in a jazz band to publishing a children’s book. Last year, Jeremy co-founded Integrate.com, an online performance marketing company that was named the “Best New Company” at the 2011 American Business Awards in New York City, and this year received the award of “Fastest Growing Company” by the 2012 Business Excellence Awards. Jeremy is also recognized as a “Forbes 30 Under 30: Technology” up and comer.
Adam Lerner
As Director and Chief Animator of the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA Denver), Adam is harnessing and advancing a broad, new understanding of art that is connected to the creativity that runs throughout society. This unique approach to museum programming is reshaping the traditional role of the art museum. Creating a strong, singular voice for his museum, Adam has created exhibitions, education and marketing that have been replicated at museums throughout the country. Developing many of these ideas at the Lab at Belmar (which merged with MCA Denver in 2009), he has also lent expertise to the Denver Art Museum and the Contemporary Museum in Baltimore, and he served as a fellow at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Jessica Posner
While studying abroad in Nairobi, Kenya, Jessica saw firsthand the devastating effects of extreme poverty and gender inequality. This experience served as the spark that led her to co-found Shining Hope For Communities. Jessica created the non-profit to provide the first free school for girls in Kiberia, Africa’s largest slum, as well as a community health clinic, clean toilet and water initiative, youth and community education, and economic development initiatives. A nationally recognized social entrepreneur and activist, Jessica earned the 2010 Do Something Award, and was named “America’s top world-changer under 25” by VH1. She also won the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship, which provides seed funding for social entrepreneurs and has been featured by CNN, NBC Nightly News, and The New York Times.
Slam Nuba
Back by popular demand are award-winning slam poets Ken Arkind, Bobby Lefebre and Theo Wilson (aka Lucifury). Members of the critically acclaimed slam team, Slam Nuba, Ken, Bobby and Theo use language and voice like no other to bring attention to social issues and causes. Ken is a National Poetry Slam Champion, Nuyorican Poets Café Grand Slam Champion, and has been featured in documentaries “SPIT!” and “Slamplanet”. Bobby is a two-time Grand Slam Champion, a National Poetry Slam finalist, an Individual World Poetry Slam finalist, and has been a member of three national poetry slam teams. A relative unknown at the time, Lucifury shook up the slam poetry world by taking 5th in the International World Poetry Slam in 2009, and with Slam Nuba, has seen the finals stage at the National Poetry Slam.
More presenters will be announced in the weeks come. Any guesses on who the others speakers might be? Who are you most excited to see of the speakers who have been announced?
Remember, you can only see these awesome speakers if you purchase a ticket to TEDxMileHigh 2012, so get yours today!
