press release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Adnan Raja, Carol Reese & Sara Raja / TEDxAustin & TEDxYouthAustin / TEDxYouthAustin@gmail.com

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There are just a few days in a year when you can feel the trajectory of the planet shift.
Sitting in the audience of TEDxYouth@Austin, there’s an electrifying energy, an eager anticipation for a day full of empowering talks, novel experiences, and profound interactions. You can feel minds opening and new possibilities forming. Right now, a group of teenagers and adult volunteers is working to put on one of the most awaited, most influential, and most ambitious events of its kind in the world for the eighth year in a row, here in Austin. TEDxYouth@Austin is a half day event of TED Talks by outstanding speakers and performers as well as “xLabs,” an interactive space for innovation. Attracting around 1000 attendees this year in February at The Long Center, the event takes close to a year to produce. We are grateful to Google for being this year's anchor partner in helping us with this arrangement! The core youth-led, adult-mentored team and ambassadors are currently working to make 2020 the most impactful TEDxYouth@Austin yet. This event has traditionally been free for all youth attendees, with the only entrance requirement being four hours of community service. In previous years, speakers have ranged from Alan Graham, the founder of Mobile Loaves and Fishes, and Lizzie Velasquez, a famous motivational speaker, to Brooklyn Decker, an actress and supermodel, and Andrej Stewart, an astronaut simulating life in space. In the xLabs, students have explored virtual reality, slam poetry, break dancing, and more. The day is packed with opportunities for students to branch out, connect with their passions, and go home with a mind full of “Ideas Worth Spreading.” This year's event will explore the theme of Re:Build, inviting future leaders and innovators to imagine and create pathways for ourselves and our communities as we work together for a stable and strong future.
To register and find out more visit www.tedxyouthaustin.com.

About TEDxYouth@Austin

TEDxYouth@Austin is an independently organized TED event, put together by approximately 50 youth team members and volunteer adult mentors. Created 8 years ago, TEDxYouth@Austin held an annual half-day event in February previously at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas and the Austin Central Library. This year, we have shifted to the Long Center, aiming to create an engaging environment for youth to explore “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Every year, a diverse group of Austin area students discover topics from speakers and performers that pertain to the chosen theme. In between speakers, attendees enjoy the xLabs, an interactive playground with exhibits that allow them to try out different activities, learn more about the speakers, and meet other attendees. Now TEDxYouth@Austin is one of the most dynamic youth events in the nation and is ready to create another event for attendees, old and new, to foster creativity, discovery, and innovation.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; and TEDBooks, short e-books on powerful ideas. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

For questions or concerns related to TEDxYouth@Austin, please email: tedxyouthaustin@gmail.com



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