Presenters to share ideas about social impact Feb. 13 at TEDxNorthCentralCollege

Experts will engage audience members with presentations about sustainable social impact Feb. 13 when North Central College hosts its first TEDx Conference.

TEDxNorthCentralCollege will feature distinguished alumni, the College’s president and student speakers. The event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, in North Central College’s theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St. Admission to the live event is sold out, but a LiveStream viewing event of the presentations will take place at The Union, 129 W. Benton Ave.; admission is free and the public is invited but tickets are required. Tickets are available at the North Central College box office; call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit tickets.noctrl.edu.

TEDx events are independently-organized, licensed TED-like events that foster learning, innovation and wonder, and bring together local communities to spark conversation around ideas that matter. The theme for TEDxNorthCentralCollege 2015 is “Changing the World for Good.” Alumni and student presenters will share ideas about sustainable social impact. TEDx events are independent events modeled after the Technology, Entertainment and Design (TED) “Ideas Worth Spreading” presentations.

TEDxNorthCentralCollege presenters and their presentations are:

--Ryan J. Dowd ’00, M.P.A., attorney and executive director of Washington, D.C.-based Ayuda, Inc., “The Value of Moral Failure,” The moments when you fail to live up to your most cherished ideals do not need to define you – but they should!;

--Kathy L. Guy ’98 Guthrie, Ph.D., associate professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Florida State University, “Finding Personal Greatness,” We all have the power to change the world, but how can we do this when we become complacent in our own journey?;

--Rick Guzman ’99, attorney and assistant chief of staff with the City of Aurora Mayor’s Office, “Discovering the Power of the Poor,” How community transformation is possible when the materially poor are empowered to play a leading role—and how it’s impossible if they don’t;

--Troy D. Hammond, Ph.D., president of North Central College, “Sustainability: Why Universities Can Lead by Example,”
Institutions of higher education are uniquely positioned to propel the sustainability movement forward, powered by three assets most organizations wish they had;

--NeAngela L. Marshall ’04 Dixon, J.D., assistant state’s attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Division, “Intimate Advocacy,” Why sharing and connecting with personal stories of adversity and injustice is vital in sustaining social movements; and

--Jackie Mitchell ’99 Nelson, director of celebrity and entertainment engagement for the American Red Cross, “Your Step-by-Step Guide to Injury-Free, Xtreme Optimism,” Practical steps that allow reluctant optimists to create a better life and world – without hurting themselves.

North Central College student speakers are Jamie Mangiameli, Alex Moerer, Rachel West, Matthew Wilke, Abigail VanHook and Anthony Schullo.

As a comprehensive liberal arts college, North Central values a broad-based, interdisciplinary education that provides an ideal environment for the exchange of ideas. When the power of interdisciplinary education is combined with a passion for the common good, the results are innovative and lead to solutions for lasting social change. TEDxNorthCentralCollege is hosted by the College’s Leadership, Ethics and Values program and the Office of Student Affairs. Visit tedxnorthcentralcollege.com to learn more.