Confirmed for Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Queens University of Charlotte

Charlotte, NC (May 9, 2011) – TEDxCharlotte is back! “Dream-makers & Risk-takers” is confirmed for b. Given its popularity, the venue for the second installment will take place in Dana Auditorium at Queens University of Charlotte.

“The focus for 2011 is on the people behind the city’s and region’s most amazing ideas worth spreading”, said Mike Watson, TEDxCharlotte’s emcee-extraordinaire. “Our goal is to represent the richness and diversity of Charlotte, and we are targeting everyone as we spread the message of TEDxCharlotte. That diversity will be reflected in the wide range of presenters, performers, artists and the audience members selected to attend”, adds Valaida Fulwood, TEDxCharlotte steering committee member.

The application process is the same as last year’s and follows TED’s guidelines for TEDx events around the world. Interested applicants are invited to apply on the web site. Answer four questions, submit, and the process is completed. Upon review, the application is stripped of any identifying markers (e.g. applicant’s name, title, organization). Confirmed attendees will be notified by August 20th.

“It is essentially a curated experience, not only from the perspective of selecting the presenters, but also selecting the audience. Are you interesting? Are you ready to engage? Are you open to new ideas? Apply to attend TEDxCharlotte. The application is simply the first step to getting engaged in the process,” explains Tracy Russ, TEDxCharlotte steering committee member.

What differentiates TEDxCharlotte from other local events is the format—speakers have a limited amount of time on stage (up to 18 minutes) with several breaks throughout the day for attendees and presenters to connect with each other. TEDxCharlotte looks for people that fly under the radar. “They’re the most interesting people you’ve never heard of,” says Mike Watson.

Dr. Siu Challons-Lipton, TEDxCharlotte‘s Host Site Liaison and Chair of Queens’ Art Department, “After last year’s inaugural event, we decided immediately that we wanted to be part of it. Our administration whole-heartedly agreed, given our focus on innovation, and thus the collaboration was born. It’s an opportunity for us to showcase Queens and interact with new audiences.”

###

Media Contact for TEDxCharlotte http://www.tedxcharlotte.com/: Sarah Hada, sarah_hada@hotmail.com, @sarahada

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, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. 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 is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Edinburgh, Scotland. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to organize local, independent TED-like events around the world; and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED.