TEDxSalons: Conversations Worth Having

This week TEDxUofM, the student organization that organizes the annual TEDx Conference at Michigan, is continuing a new initiative called TEDxSalons. A Salon is a small gathering where attendees can eat, discuss, brainstorm, and connect in a more intimate atmosphere than a standard TEDx event; think of it as a loosely facilitated discussion. The Salon will be a chance for new people to meet each other and share ideas in a relaxed, engaging atmosphere. The goal of these events is to create a conversation that isn’t widely being had on this campus, and to get people thinking about these various topics. Don’t think of it as a class discussion; it is informal and enlightening! The event this week is called “On The Streets of Ann Arbor: A Conversation on Homelessness.”

This theme focuses on the status of homelessness within our community. The discussion will hope to speak about homelessness in a sensitive and respectful manner within a group of individuals learning to understand more about the topic. Discussion will include the growing gap between wage earnings and the cost of living which leaves hundreds of families and individuals (in our community) unable to make ends meet. Understanding homelessness is more than mere statistics. We witness the individual faces of homelessness on the streets, but the larger community struggles are often unseen. Untold stories of the men, women, and children without homes. How often do you stop, and how often do you take the time to hear the story?

TEDxSalons revolve around the idea that conversationing is an art; that talking to people, and sharing ideas is a form of artistic expression. The Salons are a unique space because they ask attendees to engage in a respectful, committed discussion, without the pressure and unnecessary limitations of a class or grade. People attend because they are interested in learning simply for learning’s sake. By focusing on relevant issues that are going relatively unnoticed, TEDx is asking attendees to channel this energy for interaction and learning into important and challenging topics. Above all, the Salons series is a hope that, at one point, the University of Michigan becomes a campus that embodies the TED mantra “Ideas Worth Spreading” every day of the year.

Event Details:

“On The Streets of Ann Arbor” A Conversation on Homelessness

Wednesday, February 27 at 7:30pm (Conversation starts at 8pm)

East Conference Room, Rackham, 4th floor

Refreshments will be served.