TEDx Providence is returning this fall, and there are some fantastic speakers lined up, ready to tell audiences about what is and open audience’s minds to what could be.
The Providence Speaking Society has supported Providence’s annual TEDx event, their biggest event of the year, for eight years. I got the chance to speak with Peter Haas and Michael Gazdacko, Providence Speaking Society board members and TEDx organizers, about this year’s iteration.
Gazdacko says he is equally excited for all of the speakers this year and the unique subjects they’ll cover. “No one gets paid to do this,” says Gazdacko. “It’s all for the love of putting this on and sharing these ideas with the greater Providence community that people haven’t been exposed to yet.”
Gazdacko says seeing people’s reactions and how inspired and excited they are to learn about new ideas makes it all worthwhile. He mentions that TEDx will give audience members the opportunity to mingle with like-minded people.
“The attendance is so diverse that you will find people like you because we have such an interesting and beautiful cross section of all of Rhode Island,” says Gazdacko, describing a safe place where people really want to be open, learn and hear new ideas.
Haas is excited for audiences to hear stories local to RI that they’ll never hear about anywhere else. “People are getting a chance to get on stage and share their experience and the little details and stories that are hidden from the public. It has been really eye opening to me to see everything that is going on in this small state,” said Haas.
TEDx Providence takes place on Oct 5 at The Vets in Providence. This year’s speakers include Taiwo Demola, Sebastian Ruth, Jose R. Rosario, China Blue, Kenneth Chabert, Julian Jacobs and Yarrow Thorne. For tickets and further information, go to tedxprovidence.com