TEDx Carson City seeks youth speakers

As the curator of TEDx Carson City, which is coming to the Brewery Arts Center on April 8, Gina Hill wants to include diverse, fresh voices.

“The great ideas throughout history are brought about by the new generation,” she said. “We wanted to give them a special opportunity to share their ideas.”

Her committee will be hosting auditions Friday for youth 25 and under to be included in the TEDx Talks themed “Creating the Community You Want To Live In.”

Those interested should sign up online at TEDxCarsonCity.com for a time slot.

TEDx is the smaller, community version of TED Conferences, which organizes groups of speakers to share “ideas worth spreading.”

“The basic premise here is to approach your TEDx curator with an idea, a really good idea, and then sell it with all of your heart,” the organization advises. “TEDx isn’t about famous people sharing their biographies; it’s about real people making connections with other real people. It’s about sharing, collaborating and working together to open each other’s eyes.”

Hill said applicants should worry less about presentation and more about an idea that could transform a community. The youth selected will join about 15 other speakers, along with a handful of recorded talks from other TED Conferences.

“My vision is to bring together like-minded people who want to create a real spark,” Hill said. “It is extremely exciting that Carson City has this global platform for making the world a better place.”

As a first-time host, Carson City’s license is somewhat limited with only 100 tickets available to hear the speeches in the Black Box Theater of the Brewery Arts Center. Hill said the committee will also offer 250 additional tickets for a screening in the Performance Hall. Tickets will be available around the first of the year.

There will also be a luncheon and reception to allow attendees to meet the speakers.

“If you see a speaker you want to talk to more, we want to create an opportunity to that,” Hill said. “We want to see real change happening in our community.”

Beyond the conference, she said, the true goal is to inspire the individual to take personal responsibility for the community’s success.

“It is our duty as citizens to help local leaders and participate in the growth and development of this community,” she said. “TEDx Carson City is a way to do so.”